FROM THE VICAR

My dear People,

We much regret to record in this issue the death of Harry Steer, a man of character and Hartlip's oldest inhabitant. As a boy he had lived in the Thatched Cottage when it was divided into three. Though resident in Chatham for a good many years, he returned to his home village in about 1928 to run his small-holding in Dane Lane for quite literally the rest of his life. He had the toughness and independence of the real countryman; he bought lambs at market at the age of 90 and discussed next season's plans on the day he died. A lifelong Methodist, he disagreed strongly with the practice of Sunday working on the part of many farmers today. I am sure our villages could do with more people like Harry Steer. We shall miss him. Almost at the same time there died Mrs. Oldland (née Harriss), of Rainham. Also Hartlip born and bred, she too was a person of character and independence. She continued to run her flower-shop in the High Street until her last short illness, at the age of 88. Many of us can remember purchasing a good bunch of flowers at a very reasonable price, laced with a few memories of old Hartlip. More than once she had given me flowers for use in our church. We offer our sincere sympathy to the two families concerned.

I am writing these words at the turn of the year. A team of ringers from Hartlip and Stockbury have just marked the occasion by ringing a Quarter Peal in our tower; others of you will have had family parties. However you spend the turn of the year there often goes with it the hope of a better year ahead. It is also, I submit, a moment when we ought to look back over the past year as well and see how we've spent it. It is a very salutary exercise. Have we been good stewards of our time, talents and money? Our leisure has any part of that been set aside for others? The honest answering of these and other similar questions may be the best means of achieving a better year in 1968.

My greetings and best wishes to you all in this New Year.

Your sincere friend and Vicar,

JOHN GREEN.