NEWS for THE WORLD

Christmas Past

I grew up in a large rambling house in God's own County of Yorkshire. Christmas for me many years ago meant a coal fire in a big sitting room and letters up the chimney to Father Christmas on Christmas Eve. Later we hung up empty pillow cases at the end of the bed and waited snuggled under several blankets for Christmas morning, knowing there would be frost on the inside of the windows!

The scent of the Christmas Tree, the cold, the quiet, the roast turkey, and Christmas pud with sixpences in it for Christmas dinner, using Great- Grandmother’s cherry table cloth which came out once a year are all indelible memories of a half-forgotten sheltered, but precious era.

Christmas Present

Today it’s all different. Now, vicar of a Church in Chislehurst, I meet hundreds of people in the week leading up to Christmas, including many who come to our “Carols by Candlelight” or Christingle Service on Christmas Eve or Services on Christmas Day. The contrast between the quiet family life of my childhood in the north of England, and a “public” Christmas in a London Borough couldn’t be greater. I often marvel at contrast, and the steps that have led me here.

Christmas Reality

It all started in 1968 when after a short period of deliberate atheism, I became a Christian. I experienced a profound change in heart and mind and, ever since, Christmas has been different. For Christians believe that at the first Christmas, God became Man and lived among us. Those few words sum up the Christian Good News for me for God has revealed himself to us. There need be no vague searching upwards, but simply a response to the baby of Bethlehem who became the Saviour of the World, who lived and died and rose again to save us, and be our friend. And in a world where there is so much suffering and sadness, so much violence and destruction, that baby born in a stable in an obscure part of the then known world, grew up identifying with us and dying for the world that for the most part, still rejects him.

Christmas Day

A small boy asked last Christmas why the baby in the crib was known by the same word as his dad used when swearing! Sadly respect and honour for the Son of God is less than ever in our own country, but Christmas is truly about the coming of a Saviour, and he can bring meaning, purpose, direction and fulfilment in place of emptiness in a mixed up world. And putting Jesus, the true “Christ” back into Christmas makes that life-changing difference. May Christmas Day be His day this year!

Canon Michael Adams

www.christchurchchislehurst.org

 

Marks & Spencer's in Chislehurst - The shortest questionnaire in history

Maybe we'll get a new sign?

To be precise, it's not a Marks & Spencer, but one of those M & S Simply Food stores (of which there are a couple locally at B P petrol stations) that is being planned.

M & S is seeking all of our opinions on their proposal to refurbish Chislehurst Library and include a Simply Food store on the site.

We at Village News always thought food 'n' drink and libraries didn't really go together - "no eating or drinking in the library". We expect there'll be another sign going up in Simply Food saying, "no books in the food store" but in the meantime, what have local residents been saying to Village News?

1. Who owns the library building and who will own it if the plans go ahead?
2. M & S state that the proposals "offer the opportunity to safeguard the future of the library."
   a. What happens when Simply Food wants to stop being in the library complex?
   b. Was the library under any threat of closure? We think not, given the political fallout that would have ensued.
3. Do we need yet another coffee shop? (See Village News' news item on 27th October.)
4. Will the library be open on Wednesdays?
5. The proposals look all very cosy, but remember, it's the planning application that counts. There was much controversy over in Sidcup recently with the Waitrose / Travelodge refurbishment of the Black Horse pub; it lost its facade despite assurances to the contrary during the planning process.
6. Despite the desire of local community groups, businesses and individuals for Chislehurst to thrive with a number of independent shops, do we really want our High Street to become more and more like a "Little Bromley"?

As for the questionnaire, we encourage you to fill it in. It's only two questions. However, as with all good questionnaires, the questions are framed to give the answers that are wanted. The second question is "Do you support the principle of a refurbished library facility on this site in Chislehurst?" No one's going to say "no" to that, but what if you would like to have a refurbished library without any M & S involvement? There's not a box to tick for that, so leave your comment below.

Details of the scheme can be found at www.chislehurstlibrarymands.co.uk. You have until 31st December to make your comments.
www.chislehurstvillagenews.co.uk

Scoff your way round the churches on Sunday 22nd, with mulled wine for the children & who has all the oranges?

The dates for the Christmas services are out (click on the Christmas logo on our home

page) and unbelievably there are more than 50 over about one week, in Chislehurst and Bickley. There's also a newcomer this year; more about them in a minute. There's Nativity from Scratch, Nativity Tableau (which is one not to miss) and Nativity Service. There are four Christingles, two of which are in the same church - so we know where all the oranges have gone this year and no wonder there are no candles left in The Workshop. There's Mass, Children's Mass, Family Mass, Midnight Mass, Sung Mass, Sung Midnight Mass, Solemn Mass and Vigil Mass. Then we have Midnight Communion, Midnight Eucharist. Finally there are the Carols: Communion and Carols, Nine Lessons & Carols, Carols "by the garden", Carols by Candlelight, Carols & Midnight Mass. Then finally, on 29th December, one church is having a ramble in Scadbury Park. No one in the Village News area will have any excuse not to go on that one! (Although, usefully,  it's followed by refreshments.)

Then there's Sunday 22nd. here's how it works:

• Start at St Patrick's Church, Chislehurst at 10.00am for Children's Christmas Mass, followed by mulled wine and mince pies. (That's what it says...! There's no indication that the mulled wine is for anyone other than the junior St Patrick's worshippers.)
• Then there's a bit of a break until 4.00pm when it's off to Chislehurst Methodist Church for Carols by Candleight followed by tea.
• Between 5 and 6.30pm new boy Kemnal Park Cemetery (www.kemnalpark.org) is hosting its inaugural Christmas Carol Service; the local community is welcome to attend. Village News is advised that the event is free. Which is a pity, because paying may have slowed down our mince pie scoffing. Kemnal Park has mince pies and mulled wine to match St Patrick's children, but then it also has hot chocolate - presumably for the adults.
• Finally we whizz over to St George's Church, Bickley for its 6.00pm Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, followed by more mulled wine and mince pies.

We think we may be needing that ramble before Christmas, not after it.
www.chislehurstvillagenews.co.uk

OH NO – SANTA’S REINDEERS BROKEN DOWN!

(10th Dec: We are pleased to report that the reindeers are now back in action.)

Santa's reindeers broke down last night (the clutch pedal failed on the Land Rover that the

SANTA - IN HAPPIER TIMES

organisers, The Rotary Club of Chislehurst, borrow) and they currently have no other source of towing vehicle - so if anyone could lend them a suitable vehicle (with or without driver - they will insure if necessary) they would be most grateful. In the meantime, Santa and his elves will be foot-slogging the Christmas Collection Routes as below, but devoid of Christmas carols!

If anyone can help please call John Harris on  07776 149834 or Ian James on 07702 281092; or email Rotary at rcchislehurst@gmail.com

MONDAY DECEMBER 2ND

Red Hill - Albany Road - Belmont Road - Degema Road - Townshend Road – Green Lane - Barham Road - Barham Close - Meadow Close - Marsham Close – Greenway - Farmland Walk - Hill Close

TUESDAY DECEMBER 3RD

Mead Road - Green Lane - Woodside Avenue - Holmdale Road - Belmont Parade - Alexandra Road - Adelaide Road - Edward Road -Heathfield Lane - Ashfield Lane - Roehampton Drive - Liskard Close - Marlowe Close - Sturges Field - The Meadow - Heathfield - Heatherly End

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 4TH

Lydstep Road - Hillview Road - Green Lane - Mainridge Road - Walkden Road - White Horse Hill - Oakdene Avenue - Walden Avenue - Elmstead Avenue - Cranmore Road - Jay Gardens - Louis Gardens.

THURSDAY DECEMBER 5TH

Elmlee Close - Walden Road - The Weald - Sandy Ridge - Selby Close - Grove Vale - Clifford Avenue - Grange Drive - Melbury Close - Elmstead Lane - Downs Avenue - Melanda Close - Hallam Close - Fosters Close - Elmstead Glade

MONDAY DECEMBER 9TH

Cricket Ground Road - Norlands Crescent - Onslow Crescent - Paget Gardens - Sheridan Crescent - Cromlix Close - Islehurst Close – Heatherbank - Oakleigh Park Avenue

TUESDAY DECEMBER 10TH

Old Perry Street - Homewood Crescent - Radnor Close - Shepherds Green - Holbrook Lane - Poyntell Crescent - Bull Lane - Hollybrake Close - Church Lane - Bishops Walk - The Glebe - Prince Consort Drive - Queens Gate Gardens

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 11TH

Chapel Farm Road - Bill Hamling Close - Hartsmead Road - Leysdown Road - Ministry Way - Lavidge Road - Birbetts Road – Bowmead - Margaret Garner Drive

THURSDAY DECEMBER 12TH

Belmont Lane – Laneside – Edgebury - Beechwood Rise - Domonic Drive - Brownspring Drive - Molescroft

MONDAY DECEMBER 16TH

Kevington Drive - Kevington Close - Marlings Close - Marlings Park Avenue - Berens Way - Ravensbury Road - Sayers Court Road - Clarendon Way

TUESDAY DECEMBER 17TH

Broadheath Drive - Fenton Close - Beaconsfield Road - Castlecombe Road - Court Farm Road - Chilham Road - Framlington Crescent - Harting Road - Dittisham Road - St Kevern Road

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 18TH

Waratah Drive

www.chislehurstvillagenews.co.uk

Princess Royal University Hospital: Have your say tomorrow!

The Care Quality Commission has provided Village News with the following press release. (Note to this Commission: The PRUH is known as the PRUH, not the PURH, unless the Chief Inspector of Hospitals is a pussy cat, so to speak.)

 

"CQC’s new Chief Inspector of Hospitals asks local people to tell him about the care provided by the Princess Royal University Hospital

England's new Chief Inspector of Hospitals is inviting members of the public to tell his inspection panel what they think of the services provided by the Princess Royal University Hospital.

Their views and experiences will help inspectors decide what to look at when they inspect the hospital in Orpington in December.

The trust is one of the first wave of 18 hospital trusts to be inspected under radical changes being introduced by the Care Quality Commission. The formal inspection at the PURH will start on Tuesday 3 December.

The Chief Inspector, Professor Sir Mike Richards, announced in July that he will lead significantly larger inspection teams than before, headed up by clinical and other experts including trained members of the public.

To ensure the views of patients and the local community are properly heard, the inspectors will be holding a listening event (details below):

• Tuesday 3 December: 6:30pm – Crofton Halls, Crofton Road, Orpington, Kent, BR6 8PR

Members of the public are being encouraged to attend the listening event to find out more about the inspection process, to tell the team about their experiences of care and to say where they would like to see improvements made in the future.

Sir Mike said: "The new inspections are designed to provide people with a clear picture of the quality of the services in their local hospital, exposing poor or mediocre care as well as highlighting the many hospitals providing good and excellent care.

"We know there is too much variation in quality – these new in-depth inspections will allow us to get a much more detailed picture of care in hospitals than ever before.

"Of course we will be talking to doctors and nurses, hospital managers and patients in the hospital. But it is vital that we also hear the views of the people who have had care at the Princess Royal University Hospital, or anyone who wants to share information with us.

This will help us plan our inspection, and so help us focus on the things that really matter to people who depend on this service.

“This is your opportunity to tell me and my team what you think, and make a difference to the NHS services in the local area.”

Sir Mike's inspection team is expected to look in detail at eight key service areas: A&E; medical care (including frail elderly); surgery; intensive/critical care; maternity; paediatrics/children’s care; end of life care; and outpatients.

A full report of the inspectors’ findings will be published by the Care Quality Commission later in the year."

The Season of Consumerism Gone Mad

Christmas Day is creeping up on us far too stealthily.

Are we ready? No we’re not!

Presents to buy, more presents to buy and even more presents to buy.

We know Christmas is almost upon us when posters start appearing that publicise the lights going on in our shopping areas.

Next Sunday (24^th) the lights go on in Royal Parade, Chislehurst. Mickey and Minnie will be the ones to throw the switch, ably assisted by the lucky winner of the raffle that’s being organised by Higgs Butchers (@ £1 a ticket). Peppa Pig, Fireman Sam, Buzz Lightyear and Woody will also be putting in an appearance. There will be Santa’s grotto, market stalls, food and entertainment.

At the end of that week, on Saturday 30^th, stagger down to The Queen’s Head in Chislehurst High Street to stuff roasted chestnuts, quoff mulled wine, meet Father Christmas (again), watch All the Arts Theatre School in action then round it all off with karaoke in the pub.

By the time Christmas comes we will all be well and truly ready for a rest – and a detox.

However, at this time of year, in the midst of winter, it is rather comforting to see our shopping areas all lit up. Not just with the lights of the shops, but also the twinkly ones above the shops and in the trees.

 

So let’s all enjoy the lighting festivities that not only signal the start of the rush to Christmas but also symbolise why Christmas is called just that, rather than The Season of Consumerism Gone Mad.

www.chislehurstvillagenews.co.uk

Local scout saves a life

KATIE - SUPER HERO!

The dust has settled on last Friday’s BBC Children in Need appeal, but here at Village News we have always felt that to a greater or lesser extent we are all in Need at various times in our lives. No more so than a driver on a 358 bus on Children in Need day.

Fourteen-year-old local resident and 14^th Bromley scout...and now super hero, Katie Haig, takes up the story.

“I was coming home from [Bishop Justus C of E] school after netball. The bus driver pulled over and opened the cab door and then collapsed out of his cab which is quite high up, before he could say anything. No one else knew first aid and everyone was getting off the bus apart from my friend and me. I came down from the back of the bus and telephoned 999 and told them what had happened. I then gave the ‘phone to a lady and put the bus driver in the recovery position.”

The bus driver regained consciousness. Katie continues, “I then asked him if anything hurt and he said that his head did. It was very red so all the blood was rushing to his head...he was lying with his head on the bottom of the slope on the bus. So I put loads of coats under his head so he would be upright so that all the blood wouldn’t keep rushing to his head. Then he started shivering and shaking so I asked my friends for all of their coats and put them over him. He then asked if I would stay with him until the ambulance came. I said “yes” and I did.

“The ambulance arrived very quickly, in about ten minutes.”

“When the paramedics arrived they told me that I had saved the bus driver’s life.”

Asked where Katie learnt about the recovery position, she replied “At scouts” where Katie has gained her stage 3 Emergency Aid badge. The requirements at this stage are 4 to 5 hours of training and activity assessed by a suitably qualified adult. These requirements include being able to respond to the needs of an unconscious patient.

In praising Katie’s actions, The Rev Canon Michael Adams, vicar of Christ Church, Chislehurst, commented “Katie has done a remarkable thing and deserves our thanks and applause for her quick thinking, quick witted response to a crisis. She brings honour to the church she belongs to and to the scouts as well.”

Whilst we wait for a response from The Scout Association (presumably busy putting a few more training programmes together) we at Village News think Katie deserves not just a badge but a medal. Do you? Leave your comments below.

www.bromleyscouts.org.uk

www.christchurchchislehurst.org

www.chislehurstvillagenews.co.uk