Membership

Annual donation £10, preferably Gift Aided by Standing Order.
Contact - Mary Hill. Tel - 862722.

Past Events

2005 was a busy time for all the Friends of St Botolph’s: The Celebration of Candlemas was held on 5th February 2005. The musical entertainment in St. Botolph’s church was provided by Ben Odom and Maggie Bloor, singing a selection of songs from Mozart operas and from the shows, which was very enjoyable. Supper afterwards was in South Wing of Lullingstone Castle, thanks to the kindness of Trevor Edwards. Altogether it was one of those special occasions which happen at Candlemas at St. Botolph’s.

We held a very successful Garden Safari on 12th June when many gardens not previously opened for inspection were on view. This proved to be very popular.

On 12th September we hosted a coffee morning at Bobby Boardman’s to mark the International Day of Peace and this too was a happy time.

'Spilling the Beans' in the Eynsford Village Hall on October 15th was original and entertaining. It was a humorous account of life in an East End vicarage just after the second World War. And we wound up the year with Diana Alexander holding another of her successful pre-Christmas coffee mornings on November 7th.

Repairs

Following the quinquennial inspection of the church it was reported that repairs totaling some £23,000 in cost were required. When the work had been virtually completed the cost had risen to £30,285 with some further £5,000 of expense likely if protection of the decoration of the south porch was undertaken. This meant that the Friends had to anticipate a request from the PCC for another £10,000. These funds were available but giving them meant that reserves were somewhat depleted.

Income

Everyone will be fully aware that the Friends are wholly dependent on donations and the support provided to fundraising events. The best way of making donations is by gift-aided standing order but all other options are gratefully received. The great advantage of completing a Gift Aid Declaration is that the Friends are able to claim back from the Inland Revenue 28p for every £1 donated.

To those who are already sending £10 per person per year, (or other, in some cases much more generous, donation) to be a Friend of St. Botolph's Church, Lullingstone and so help to maintain this beautiful old church, the committee wish to say THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED. Where annual donations have lapsed or Gift Aid Declarations have not been completed and there is a desire to continue to help an appropriate form can be obtained from Mary Hill.

Events in 2006

The annual Celebration of Candlemas was held on Saturday 4th February. The music was a mixture of classical guitar solos played by Thomas Lavine and clarinet trios played by Elizabeth Mace, Gary Bowman and Katie Ewen. This turned out to be totally delightful and supper in the Castle was as ever a real treat. As seems to happen every year the event was a complete sell out within days of tickets going on sale. Anyone who would like to come in 2007 will need to get in touch as soon as bookings open.

On Saturday 21st May there was a plant sale at 60 Old Mill Close with teas etc. The green fingered Bobby Boardman had provided still more plants!

On the afternoon of Saturday 25th June there was a bric a brac sale at Meadow View and this too went well. The efforts of James and Diana Alexander are much appreciated by the Friends of St. Botolph.

A Creative Talents Exhibition was held in St. Botolph’s on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September 2006. The Friends were very grateful that more than fifty people from within the United Benefice were prepared to lend objects of creative art that they had produced. To see pictures of the exhibition click here. Photographs were not included this year as there had been a county-wide photograph exhibition in St. Martin’s during June.

That weekend (the 9th/10th September) was when the Friends of Kent Churches Sponsored Cycle Ride took place so there was hope that there might be some additional visitors. Lunches and teas were served on two days of beautiful weather and the range and quality of the work shown astonished the very many people who came and enjoyed the exhibition. The event raised a satisfactory sum to help to restore the deficit in the reserves of the funds of the Friends.

On Friday 6th October there was a further fund raising event when James Alexander gave a showing of slides of 'Eynsford Then and Now' in Eynsford Village Hall with a buffet supper following. The proceeds were divided equally between the Friends of St Botolph’s and the Best Kept Village Group. Again this was a most happy and satisfactory occasion.

The remaining Friends’ events for 2006 are an Advent Coffee Morning to be held at Meadow View on Friday 8th December and the provision of mince pies to go with the mulled wine at the get-together in Lullingstone Castle after the carol service in St. Botolph’s on Saturday 23rd December at 5pm.

Bobby Boardman

At this point a very big thank you has to be said to Bobby Boardman who was a founder member of the Friends way back in 1998 and has been a tower of strength ever since. She has served as the PCC’s representative on the committee from the beginning and has acted as Secretary since 1999 with a generosity and dedication that is impossible to describe adequately. Many will know that she has gone to live close to her daughter near Kidderminster. All of us who knew her well miss her very much indeed. She is irreplaceable !

Future Events

The date for the Candlemas Celebration for next year will be Saturday 3rd February 2007. The music will be provided by the husband and wife team of Paul and Sandra Booer who will sing songs from opera and from the shows. Supper will be served in one of the nearby residences.

The Annual General Meeting of the Friends of St. Botolph’s Church Lullingstone will be in the church on Sunday 13th May 2007 at 12.30 just after the morning service. All Friends are cordially invited. This organisation belongs to the members and the committee need to know their views on what is being done and how it is being done.

Mary Hill, Chairman.

e-mail: christopherphill@talktalk.net