Sevenoaks Business Show - Friday 11th October

The Sevenoaks Business Show on Friday 11th October aims to provide a protective umbrella of support and advice to local businesses. Entry is free with a wave of a business card, taking away the tedious queues and formalities associated with exhibition registration.

Opening the show at 10am is the RT Hon Michael Fallon MP, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, Energy, and patron of the Sevenoaks Town Partnership. As a keen supporter of local business and the Sevenoaks community, Michael takes a personal interest in this event and his opening address is sure to be relevant and interesting. Kent County, Sevenoaks Town and Sevenoaks District Councils will have a presence emphasising the theme of local business collaboration and 'community'. Kent Invicta Chamber and Sevenoaks Chambers of Commerce, with the support of West Kent Partnership, and the Centre for Micro Business will offer free advice and guidance.

Delicious breakfast muffins from XyloBrit, sizeable canapés from Cote Brasserie Sevenoaks and speciality teas from Blends for Friends will satisfy hungry souls searching for added value throughout the day. Discounts and show only offers will be plentiful making this event a bounteous outing.

Tickets please! We have a big red bus for our social media workshop which will travel around town. The Number 7 will be home to ZC Social Media for the day.

On legal issues the event has Brachers LLP as main sponsor. Together with two other legal firms - Devonshires and Warners Solicitors - delegates can have a field day getting to grips with legislation affecting their businesses.

Other sponsors include CCLA a specialist investment management company for charities, faith organisations and local authorities, Sevenoaks Town Council, Sevenoaks District Council, Sevenoaks Chamber of Commerce and Stag Community Arts Centre.

Cooper Sevenoaks MINI will be showing some perfect companions to the business motorist, both trade and executive. If it's human resources you need, Office Angels will be on hand to solve temporary and permanent recruitment solutions.

New and new-to-Sevenoaks companies have chosen the business show to introduce themselves.

Telecoms provider, Connect it Communications from Chatham bring creative solutions to give businesses the edge over their competitors. They provide mobile phones, tracking, Sat Broadband, business broadband, phone systems, lines and call rental, VoIP and hosted phone systems.

In the wonderful world of the web, Andy Olsen from Zine UK in Gillingham is a wizard of SEO, website design and affordable solutions for small businesses. His free website evaluation tool is a practical way to test how effective your current site is performing before making a decision about improvements.

If you are managing a fleet of vehicles, Webworks Multimedia in Shoreham will be showcasing their 'Smartt' apps with intrinsic websites. The recently launched 'Smartt-Vehicles' app is the most comprehensive vehicle management app available. More product launches are on their way.

In the world of finance, Handelsbanken offer a bespoke banking service. The decision making is in the branch, so a swift response is assured.

Also offering financial advice is Sevenoaks based Mike Fisher at Evolve Financial Management Ltd who has 30 years experience advising clients on a wide portfolio of financial issues, educating clients for their future.

The Federation of Small Businesses protects the interest of the self-employed and those who own or run a small business. They will be highlighting their package of legal, tax and other benefits offering real and tangible commercial advantage for the business owner.

Pro-Actions business improvement specialists take business coaching to a new level. Hugh Fenton's workshops are the perfect tonic for new and old hands wishing to focus on business and marketing plans, time management, finance and other key skills. Where would businesses be without the networking breakfast? Alternative Breakfast Club members will represent the collaborative aims of the group and encourage visitors to join them at the Mercure Hotel, Pembury every three weeks with no joining fees or membership charges.

Francis Chappell & Sons, will also be exhibiting, showing the friendly and professional face of funeral directing. Established in 1840, the firm continues to serve generations of families in the south east.

At the Sevenoaks Business Show the atmosphere and sense of supportive collaboration will put the buzz back into your business. Speaking about the event, Stephen Arnold, Chairman of Sevenoaks Town Partnership says:

"We are delighted with the support from our sponsors and suppliers and urge sole traders, business owners, managers and start ups to pop along to see what is on offer.

Companies, recognising the benefits of collaborating to increase their target markets, are choosing to introduce themselves to the wider business community in Sevenoaks.

With free entry, free workshops, free seminars and free refreshments - there's nothing to lose."

Website: www.7oaksbiz.com
Twitter: @7oaksbiz
More information from the organiser: gabrielle@gmppr.com

Olympic Torch Coming To Sevenoaks

Friday morning (20th July) will see the Olympic flame arrive in Sevenoaks via Borough Green and Seal.

It is due to arrive at the Vine Cricket ground, up Dartford Road, at about 11.30am.

There will be a ceremony organised by the Town Council and LOCOG which will include a celebrity guest who has yet to be named. Guests in other towns have included sporting stars, pop musicians and well known TV and radio presenters.

A number of local businesses will be providing food and refreshments on the Vine.

Riverhead Kentish Crafts Fair July 28

A new showcase for the finest Kentish crafts is being launched in Riverhead on Saturday July 28.

The First Riverhead Kentish Crafts Fair will feature quality contemporary crafts like stained glass, handmade greetings cards, fine woodturning, fused glassware, pictures and prints, handmade candles and soaps, handmade oak chairs for children, textiles and fabric homecrafts, fabric toys, pottery and ceramics and more.

To tease the palate there will be delicacies like handmade fudge and cupcakes, and even a stall of vodkas, infused with the flavours of hand-picked Kentish fruit, and homemade Limoncello.

The ambitious event at St Mary's church hall, Riverhead, which runs from 10.30am to 4pm, will also be a family fun day so parents can browse the craft market inside the hall while children are entertained outside. There will be an outdoor crafts fair for children in the church grounds next to the hall, with hands on crafts like clay painting and making greetings cards.

And a free programme of activities for children will run all day, put on by Gymboree, Musical Bumps and 7Oaks Multisports. There will also be face painting. Teas, cakes and refreshments will be available all day, with homemade cakes provided by Chipstead WI.

Stallholders will be coming from all across Kent, as well as nearer to home in Sevenoaks, Otford, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells and Bromley. There is no entry fee.

More quality craft fairs are being planned for the autumn as well as a shoppers' Christmas crafts fair.

St Mary's church hall, London Road, TN13 3DR is next to the church above the Riverhead roundabout on the A25. For more information look out for the banners, flyers and posters, or call 01732 450152.

Also see Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Riverhead-Kentish-Crafts-Fair-Sat-July-28th-2012-1030am-to-4pm/296071640487085

The Hop Farm Music Festival

Friday 29th June, Saturday 30th June and Sunday 1st July

With only 8 days to go until the Hop Farm Music Festival we have been checking the weather reports regularly to make sure the sunshine we ordered is on its way and we can confirm beautiful Kent is going to be lovely over the Hop Farm weekend, Whooop!

Tickets are still on sale but are limited so make sure you don't miss out seeing some of the best bands on the planet, new and old, this summer.

Line up includes:

• BOB DYLAN
• SUEDE 
• RICHARD ASHCROFT 
• PETER GABRIEL AND THE NEW BLOOD ORCHESTRA 
• DAMIEN RICE 
• RAY DAVIES 
• THE LEVELLERS

For all ticket information got to our ticket page....

Book Your Stall for This Years Riverhead Carnival

Riverhead Carnival -  September 2012 

The 3rd Riverhead & Dunton Green Scout Group organises and runs the Riverhead Carnival located on Chipstead Common, Witches Lane.

Admission is free.

With approx 80 stalls on offer, the event encourages local voluntary and community groups and businesses to support their local community by holding a stall on the green. Attendance is around 4,500.

We are looking for local businesses and charities who would like to run a stall at this year's event.

For more info: http://www.3rdsevenoaks.org.uk/event-Riverhead_Carnival2.html

or contact

https://twitter.com/#!/TraceyPound on Twitter.

Mindfulness and Mindfull Meditation Workshop

My next workshop will be an 'Introduction to Mindfulness and Mindful Meditation'

This two hour workshop is being held in a lovely spa setting in Westerham, near Sevenoaks, with plenty of convenient free parking.

On this workshop, you will be introduced to Mindfulness, the benefits of a Mindful approach to living and we will practice Mindful Meditation.

Find out how to use Mindfulness for: 

• Stress Management 
• Feelings of anger 
• Anxiety and panic attacks 

The workshop will take place on Saturday 21st July from 10am until 12pm 

 Cost: £20

 BOOKING A PLACE IN ADVANCE IS ESSENTIAL

Contact Tanya Wright:

07940 571207

 counselling@tanyawright.com

 www.tanyawright.com

Indiana Jones experience at Combe Bank School

The girls of Combe Bank School, Sundridge will be enjoying a 'Time Team/Indiana Jones Experience' on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd June. The whole school will be reverting back to the war years in a groundbreaking, quite literally, two-day project, aptly named "Dig it".

The event is the brainchild of inspirational History teacher Peter Hutchins, who is always looking for new ways to bring his subject to life. He felt that, as the school was situated on such an historic site, the girls should be involved in unearthing some of the history and, quite literally, digging it out.

Peter said: "I am really passionate about making history come alive, to help create a long-lasting interest in the subject. What better way to bring it alive than in the form of an archaeological dig? The whole school has been hugely enthusiastic and active in the planning of the event and there is a real sense of excitement building around the school. We are very fortunate to have the school located on such a historically interesting site, and I believe the knowledge gained across the curriculum will remain with the girls far longer than if they were just reading about it."

Based in and around the historic Combe Bank House and grounds, the two-day extravaganza has taken on a life of its own and is now involving all the pupils and staff from both the Senior and Prep Schools and is now a very cross curriculum event. The field opposite the main house, which was used as a landing strip and, later, a dumping ground for decommissioned World War II aircraft, is the main site for the dig. An area has been identified in which a trench is to be dug, an initial reconnoitre of the area has already unearthed pieces of a Spitfire and very large German aircraft bullets. Metal detectors will be employed and it is hoped for lots of interesting finds, which will be cleaned and carefully catalogued.

The girls are also excavating around the old swimming pool and the changing rooms. The summer growth will mean the pool's structure is less well defined and will add to the 'Indiana Jones' like experience. In addition the girls will be trying to identify and excavate the site of a four roomed thatched cottage which was built in the grounds as a playhouse for the daughters of one of the previous owners of the house and grounds.

Weather permitting; things really start to come alive with three World War 11 Piper Cubs from Biggin Hill due to land on the old airstrip, active for the first time since 1978, on the Thursday and a fly-past from a Heritage Spitfire on the Friday. Other planned activities include Land Girls pulling vegetables and delivering on tractors to help with the ration cooking workshop; building an Anderson shelter and radio transmitter which, it is hoped, will transmit to the incoming planes; producing a newspaper as it would have been produced at the time; and the PE department organising an 'old-style' sports day where some of the activities recorded around 1930 will be restaged.

The girls will also investigate the story of a German airman who parachuted into Combe Bank and hid in the caves in the grounds. A touch of realism will be added to the investigation by a member of the teaching staff, who will recreate the event by hiding out in the caves overnight.

All the activities will recreate a real feeling of the 1920's and 1930's as well as the Blitz years for the 21st-century pupils.

Added to these events, much, much more is going on, with each department adding something to what looks set to be an unforgettable experience for all taking part. Headmistress Jane Abbotts, said: "This is a truly memorable and exciting event for Combe Bank School, and it will extend our understanding of the history of the site. The girls are creating their own record of the experience using film and music. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them choose to develop their interest in archaeology further following these two days."