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Elham beat off stiff competition for the title of Kent Village of the year 2011 organised by Action with Communities in Rural Kent.
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Censuses for outlying communities in the parish will be rolled out gradually. Check out the stats page for interesting facts and
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trivia about the village. We still need your help so please send us any information relating to Elham that may be of interest.
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Les Ames hits out
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Elham resident Les Ames in action for England against the West Indies in 1939. He was one of the finer wicketkeeper - batsmen and played for Kent CCC.
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Abbot's Fireside c 1450
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The Abbot's Fireside is one of the older buildings in the village and probably dates back to the mid fifteenth century.
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Audrey attends school
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Audrey Hepburn (left) lived in Orchard Cottage (Five Bells) for five years in her childhood (1935-1940) and attended the local village schools. She took ballet lessons
and dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina. I wonder what became of her?
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George V Playing Field
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Dave Lee opens Elham's brand new playground with a sensory garden and a pretty flower meadow created by the Play for Elham charity. 21st November 2010
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Swing Riots of 1830
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The machine breaking that led to the riots of August 1830 onwards started in the Elham Parish, writes our historian Derek Boughton,
who has made a lifetime's study of the subject.
Elham residents were prominent in the gangs that sought out the new fangled threshing machines and destroyed them. Some of them cost the not inconsiderable sum for the day of £100.
Full Story
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CHARGE AGAINST A Surgeon
1880
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On Thursday, at the County Petty Sessions, Mr. D. S. Creswell a surgeon practising at Elham, was summoned for being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and carriage in high-street, Elham, on April 15th. Police-sergeant Lyons said on April 15th lie was on duty, when defendant came driving down the street, and endeavoured to drive over him twice. The Bench dismissed the charge of being drunk whilst in charge of a horse and chaise, but considered the case proved of being drunk and disorderly, and sentenced the defendant to 14 days' hard labour. Notice of appeal was given.
Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald - Saturday 22 May 1880
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Lewis Hubble
1919
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We regret to announce the death on Tuesday last, of Mr. Lewis Hubble, the proprietor of the well-known grocery stores. He was a popular figure in the village. Sincere sympathy is felt with the relatives of the deceased, who was in the prime of his life.
Folkestone, Hythe, Sandgate & Cheriton Herald 10 May 1919
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Mick Hogben
2011
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George Michael (Mick) Hogben died on 23rd February, after struggling against illness for many years.
Born at North Elham, Mick's first job after leaving Elham School was at Elham Bakery, which then had five or six vans on the road. As Mick never learned to drive, he had eventually to find another job, and most of his working life was spent at the War Department wood yard at Acrise. Day after day, year after year, Mick walked the three miles there and back, right up to his retirement. Though not a natural athlete, Mick was a surprisingly aggressive table tennis player, but later turned to the gentler short mat bowls and enjoyed that and the visit to the Rose & Crown afterwards. Never a heavy drinker, Mick enjoyed the sociability of all three village pubs, recently in the corner seat at the King's Arms.
I wrote a article about the history of Friendly Societies in the Newsletter of October 1991, which ended:
"Here in Elham, the New Inn had a Sick Club (as opposed to a simple Christmas Club) longer than any other local pub, thanks largely to the energy and enthusiasm of Mick Hogben."
I'm glad that I recorded that for posterity, but it is just one example of the extraordinarily unstinting way that Mick gave of his time and talents in the service of our community.
To many of us Mick seemed a most unlikely Father Christmas, but he did the job very well indeed over many years, and both parents and children have fond memories of him in that role. When he was in his Santa costume, Mick couldn't be on the door or at the gate, but at one time if you went to a fête or coffee morning, and Mick wasn't there to take your pennies, you'd wonder what was amiss. As Mick's mobility grew less, this sedentary task seemed ideal for him, but it was never enough for Mick, and if money was needed and when was it not, for the school, the hall, or whatever, he would get himself sponsored and stretch himself to the limit, for instance walking round and round the Gore, when walking itself was a trial.
A full chapel at Barham Crematorium for his funeral was testament to the regard in which he was held by the village. It was good too that he was remembered at the first Elham Farmers' Market of 2011, as he had been its most loyal supporter, right up to the last market of 2010.
Derek Boughton
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