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 Christmas Tree festivals have become very popular in our Churches across the country. John & Rosemary Freeman who until earlier on this year ran their antique shop in Church Street, came back last year from a visit to Smarden Church full of enthusiasm for the Christmas Tree festival that they had seen at St Michael’s. John & Rosemary have since moved to Wales but left the idea of our Parish Church St Gregory & St Martin holding a Tree festival with the Friends of the Church.

 Smarden Church had thirty one trees in their festival last year. The winning tree was entered by the Smarden Patchwork and quilting group who worked for three months before the event. They planned to make  one hundred quilted stockings filled with candy sticks and ended up making one hundred and ten!

Following this wonderful idea the Friends of Wye Church have invited Clubs, Societies and Businesses of Wye to enter into their Christmas Tree Festival. We understand that some of the participants are The Bell Ringers, The Wye Gardeners, The Wye Business Association, Ticketyboo and Leppers Homes & Gardens to name but a few. We are also told that a lot of work is going into the decorating of the trees and that visitors to the festival will be asked to help judge the best tree!

The Christmas Tree Festival opens an hour after the start of the Street Party on Friday 5th December 7pm. It will also be open Saturday 10am until 6pm and again Sunday 7th December from 12noon until 6pm. There will  be a stall and refreshments. Everyone is invited to come and support this community event. If there is an elderly person who lives near you and you think a visit to the trees might brighten their day why not bring them too!

Over 1,000 bulbs are tested and replaced.

 As Christmas approaches The Wye Business Association prepare the festive lighting in readiness for decorating the village. Soon the  darkness of the winter evenings that shroud our village will be lifted by the brightness of Christmas lights. 

It is eleven years ago since the Association held a Christmas fete in June to raise money to purchase the first Christmas Lights. The fete was to have been held in the gardens of Luckley House on a hot summers evening. A terrific storm saw everyone grabbing tables bric-a brac and such like and heading into Luckley House where a most incredible evening took place. It was unforgettable. Veronica Cackett the then Sheltered Housing Manager soon had all the stall holders organised. The Tombola was held in the laundry room whilst the other stalls lined the corridors not to mention one person who set her stall up in the public telephone box. Luckley House was decorated with Christmas Decorations and fairy lights all to make for a perfect June evening away from the torrential storm. The only group that were left outside were the Firemen with their fire engine! Over one thousand pounds was raised that evening which was the beginning of Christmas Lights for Wye!  

Robert Earl takes the BB Q’s for testing

To ensure that those visiting our Christmas Street Party (Friday 5th December 6pm) don’t go hungry, Robert Earl a very active member of the Wye Business Association takes the BBQ’s back to his shop, Leppers Homes and Gardens in the Olantigh Road for testing.

A new event to Wye is the Christmas Tree Festival which is being run by the Friends of Wye Church in Wye Parish Church. Friday 5th December at 7pm, Saturday 10.am to 6.00pm and Sunday 7th noon to 6.00pm.

Businesses and Associations have been invited to purchase a Christmas Tree and decorate it to represent themselves. Visitors will be asked to help judge the best tree. There will be refreshments and a gift stall in the Church. Do give this new event your support, a lot of hard work will have gone into it!

So folks soon after the much enjoyed bonfire and firework evening up on the Crown our community will be coming together once again to enjoy another special ‘Wye Moment!’

Last Thursday’s Wye Future Group AGM saw elections for two new committee members. Chairman Ben Moorhead welcomed Alan Paterson and Tony Shoults, who is to be Treasurer following the resignation of Ernst Emmerich, Treasurer since inception, who was thanked for all his hard work.

We must continue to harbour our resources, since Imperial College’s intentions for the Wye campus remain completely unknown. Ben suggested that supporters should be encouraged to make further donations. We should always be in a position to instruct Planning Consultants or other professional advisers without delay, as the need arises.

Ben reported on the WFG response to Ashford Borough Council’s consultation process in relation to the various sites around the village which might be capable of development. This was both general and site-specific and was drawn up in consultation with John Baker Associates, our Planning Consultants, who have been extremely supportive.

Our main theme in relation to Wye College mirrors that of Wye Parish Council- that ABC should forcefully maintain their present stance. There should be no piecemeal selling of unwanted properties. The campus should remain intact and before any relaxation is allowed, Imperial College must demonstrate that all avenues have been explored which might lead to the entire estate returning to educational and research use.

The fear was expressed that Imperial College are deliberately using the long-term planning strategy of inactivity and letting their whole site fall into disrepair over a decade or more. They may then seek to revive their previous development plans, having worn down local opposition such as ours. Their unwillingness to consult directly with any local interests including Ashford Borough Council is very worrying. WFG should do what we can to promote constructive dialogue.

The fact that there is currently no indication whatever of Imperial College’s intentions makes it difficult for us to attract and maintain support, but it was believed that if and when any new threat emerges, the previous high level of community support and donations to our cause will revive.

Alan Paterson
Committee Member
Wye Future Group