Summer 2023

CLUB NEWS
Cranbrook
Juniors
Football Club
Needs You!
CJFC is more than just a place
for children to play football,
it’s a thriving community
of dedicated volunteers,
enthusiastic young players
and supportive families who
come together to create a
safe, nurturing and inclusive
environment for our youth
to develop their skills and
passion for the beautiful game.
However, behind the scenes,
it’s the volunteers who truly
make the club tick. From
coaches and team managers to
committee members and event
organisers, our volunteers
selflessly give their time,
skills and expertise to keep
the club operating smoothly.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of
our club and their importance
cannot be overstated. Without
Frittenden WI
We are a small but friendly WI with a varied
programme of events. We meet at 7pm on
the second Tuesday of each month in the
recently refurbished Frittenden Village Hall.
Because of the inclement weather
last December, our Christmas Party was
postponed until January. The Headcorn
Ukelele Band entertained us in February
and in March we had a talk given by Andy
Fairweather on Pro-Active Policing. In April,
Peter Batty told us how influential the East
Malling horticultural research has been on
fruit growing around the world during the
their unwavering dedication
and tireless efforts, CJFC
would not be the thriving club
that it is today.
Our volunteers show up
early on match days to set
up pitches and goals, spend
countless hours organising
fundraisers to ensure the club
has the necessary resources,
run the tea shop and work
diligently behind the scenes
to manage the club’s finances,
administration and operations.
As the chair of CJFC, I
am immensely grateful for
the incredible work that
our volunteers do. They are
the backbone of our club
and their contributions are
invaluable. However, as with
many grassroots sports clubs,
we are always in need of more
volunteers to help shoulder
the workload and ensure its
continued success.
To anyone considering
volunteering at our club, I
urge you to take the leap.
Whether you have experience
in coaching, refereeing,
administration, events or
simply a passion for football
and a desire to give back to the
community, there is a role for
you at CJFC. Ant Tomlinson
Want to find out more? Come
along and visit us on Saturday
mornings on Rammell Field or
chair@cranbrookjuniorsfc.co.uk
last hundred years. We are also in the process
of planning a trip to the Darvell Community
in Robertsbridge and a garden party.
This year we celebrate our 75th birthday
and plans are in hand for a celebration,
probably during the summer months. As you
can see, we have a variety of activities, which
also include a lunch at a local pub/restaurant
on the third Wednesday of each month.
Our new year begins in May when we would
be pleased to welcome new members. Come
along and give us a try. For more information
contact: Aneta Godwin (secretary) on
01580 714150 or Anne Holroyd (president) on
01580 893256.
Tom Chantler
This spring, Cranbrook Rugby
Club celebrated the life of
one of its great past captains,
Tom Chantler. Tom’s
commitment to Cranbrook
rugby was total and carried
out in his own quiet
manner. He introduced
people from all walks of
life to the club, including me, playing rugby for
fun and for the camaraderie it brought. As well as
Cranbrook, he flew the flag for a number of pub
teams too, the Pepperpot, Wild Duck, Drones, Mad
Dogs and Maidstone Vets to name just a few.
A leader of many men, on the field, in the
field, in the water (he enjoyed a spot of salmon
fishing) and to the bar. A leader of many women
mainly to the dance floor – Strictly Come Dancing
had nothing on Tom – the boy certainly had the
moves. Many great grans, grans, mothers and
their daughters have all had the pleasure of the TC
experience!
At CRC, he captained the Nomads (2nd XV)
between 1993 and 1996 and the Old Gits (the vets)
from 2003 to 2010. On 1 April, a memorial game
was held against the local friendly rivals Maidstone,
who had also lost one of their greats a week before
the game. The Old Gits paraded onto the field with
the oldest player, Alan Shorter – aged 72 – packing
down for most of the game. A very disciplined
and well-drilled Maidstone scored the first points
– 12-0 at half-time. The Old Gits brought on some
younger bodies to bring the final score to 12-12, a
fitting tribute for the inaugural TC Challenge Cup, a
game that will now be a permanent fixture in both
clubs’ diaries. A true testament to the gentlemen
that Tom was, over 800 people joined together at
Cranbrook Rugby Club to celebrate a life lived and
taken far too soon.
The Farmer, the Fisherman, the Gamekeeper,
the Game Shooter, the Agricultural Construction
Installer, the Rugby Player, the Captain, of both
rugby and shooting teams, the Marathon Runner
(London), The Party Goer and Organiser, the
Traveller, the Artist (who knew?), the Dad, the
Dancer… and most of all, the absolute Gentleman.
RIP Tom. Chris Hambridge
The Bun Penny Club, a registered charity, was formed in 1959
with the object of giving a present to all people in the
parish of Sissinghurst who were over 65 and were either
single, widowed or widowers, or for some other reason,
alone at Christmas. This has since developed into
providing an annual Christmas dinner for members,
with those unable to attend given a small present
instead. The Bun Penny Club also takes out its
members for a cream tea each summer.
To raise money for these activities, the Bun Penny
Club originally collected early Victorian ‘Bun Pennies’,
the coins showing Queen Victoria with her hair done up in
a bun. As these pennies became harder to find other means of
raising funds had to be found. These activities now include
an annual quiz, which is to be hosted by the Milk House
pub this year on 12 June 2023, stalls at the village fete,
coffee mornings and sponsored events. Donations are
also welcomed.
If you live in the parish of Sissinghurst, live alone and
over the age of 65 and are not currently a member of the
Bun Penny Club, then please contact our chairman Pat
Edwards on 01580 712118 for further information or email
bunpennyclub@mail.com. Please also contact Pat if you would
like to help or have any ideas for money-raising.
The Cake • Summer 2023 13