Winter 2023

LOCAL NEWS
News
What’s New on
the High Street?
In spite of Mrs T Potts Shoppe of Sweets’
wonderful Halloween window display with
tombstones for the lost shops, there is a lot of
new life in the Cranbrook retail scene. Why not
check out these new shops and businesses?
• JNM Boutique – sports and leisure wear
• Gallery 35 – a new art gallery (see the article
on page 26)
• Friends Turkish barber
• Lifeworks – Pilates, yoga, counselling and
mindset
• Lloyd Martin/Le Grys – estate agency
reopens
• Willow and Sage Bistro
• Body Art Cranbrook – wellbeing and tattoo
parlour
• Hampers Galore – collections of goodies!
• Crookes Law – solicitors.
Get Involved!
In previous issues, The Cake has
highlighted the benefits of getting
involved in local projects and
volunteering with charities and groups.
We are very lucky to have two brilliant
charity shops in Cranbrook both
offering great community shopping
opportunities and they are always
grateful for help from volunteers. In
fact, they wouldn’t be open without
them!
All over Kent and East Sussex,
Hospice in the Weald charity shops are
packed full of bargains and treasures
and the money raised goes directly to
patient care, supporting those in the
local community living with a terminal
illness. They also promote sustainable
shopping, which is good for the planet
and your wallet.
Oxfam shops all over the world play
a vital role in the ongoing attempt
Mrs T Potts Shoppe of Sweets
Body Art Cranbrook
to eradicate poverty, raising funds
to save and change lives and help
with humanitarian crises – of which
there are far too many. By accepting
donations, Oxfam also encourages
recycling and repurposing, doing so
alongside its waste collection partners
who aim to reduce landfill to zero.
Charity shops need help with
window dressing, serving customers,
sorting varied donations, organising
pop-up shopping events and managing
social media. As a volunteer you get to
join a friendly team at the heart of your
community, using your knowledge to
help others as well as learning new
skills, enhancing your CV and making
new friends.
Without volunteers like you these
valuable community shops could be
at risk. Pop into Oxfam or Hospice in
the Weald in Stone Street and find
out more or give them a call on 01580
712405 (Oxfam) or 01580 713746
(Hospice).
CUP CAKES
• NEW HOMES IN STONE STREET: Roddy Homes have
completed the purchase of the Cranbrook Engineering
site in Stone Street. We can expect to see a new hoarding
as they started work in November. They hope to finish
the building of 28 houses and a shop by spring 2025.
• VESTRY HALL DOUBLE GLAZING DELAY: In spite
of hoping to have the Vestry Hall double glazed by this
winter, it looks as though we will only have the new glass
fitted in the spring of 2024.
• LITTER PICKS: We were hoping to report that we
had a good turnout for the litter picks in Cranbrook
and Sissinghurst, but in the end it was the most poorly
attended for some time. However, thank you to those
who did participate – you collected 19 black bags full of
rubbish in two hours! Please look out for details of the
spring litter pick.
• DISCUSSIONS ON NEW SLIDE FOR BALL FIELD
PLAYGROUND: The Parish Council are working with
local families to agree a more suitable new large slide for
the playground in the Ball Field.
• THE HOP PICKERS LINE HERITAGE TRAIL: The Hop
Pickers Line Heritage Group are pleased to announce
the launch of their new website, which gives useful
information about the history of the former railway
line that ran between Paddock Wood and Hawkhurst.
The site also includes sections on maps, signage,
waymarking and access, hop picking and a gallery of
interesting images, including Cranbrook Station. Visit:
hoppickersline.org
• READING GROUP: If you enjoy reading, then you
may be interested in the reading group that meets
every second Tuesday of the month, 10.30–11.30am, at
the Cranbrook Library. The members meet to discuss
the book they picked up from the previous meeting.
Everyone is given a copy of the book, which is supplied
by Kent Libraries. You don’t have to be a member and it
is FREE.
The group is open to all ages and all are welcome. So,
if you are interested then just come to the library in
Carriers Road at 10.30am on the relevant Tuesday.
• LIGHT REFURBISHMENT TO PLAY AREAS : Next
spring, Hill developers have agreed to do refurbishment
work on the play equipment across the Parish Council
maintained play areas. The work will be carried out by
volunteers from Hill and their subcontractors.
• JOB OPPORTUNITIES AT HILL DEVELOPMENT: Hill,
who are currently building 180 houses at Brick Kiln, are
offering work experience opportunities and is accepting
applications for the Hill Management Trainee Program
(for a September start date). For all enquires contact the
Social Value and Community Team: residents@hill.co.uk
• ALL CHANGE, TING TING!: Cranbrook Choral Society
is delighted to announce that Francesca Massey will be
taking over the baton on the retirement of Jeffery Gray.
His last concert was Britten's St Nicholas and Hymn to
the Virgin Mary.
10 The Cake • Winter 2023