2012 saw some personnel changes in the role of local PCSO for the Brede Valley area with officers being moved around due to staff shortages and long term absences. I am pleased to announce (writes PC Nigel Collins) that PCSO Richard Perchard has now returned to the area as the local PCSO for Udimore, Westfield and Brede. Richard had previously worked in these villages for over 5 years before moving onto a different area around 6 months ago. He however, has now returned and brings back with him a vast amount of local knowledge, experience and contacts which I am sure will be of great benefit to both me and the local community. 

The Medieaval May Fayre will take place on Saturday 18th May from 1 til 4pm on Broad Oak Recreation Ground. Maypole dancing and the crowning of the May Queen by the children of Brede Primary School. Brave Knights and Princesses welcome!

Brede and Broad Oak will soon be getting much needed postal services after a long-running village campaign. Hundreds of people in the village have signed a petition calling for the reinstatement of services in a two year fight.

Now it looks as though they may have won some concession with a full postal service due to operate from Broad Oak General Store every Friday starting from January 25.

May 2012 marked the start of the Big Dig: over 25 volunteers began digging at Brede High Farm, with help from local archaeologists. The team hoped to find remains of the farmhouse and farm buildings which existed at Brede High Farm until their demolition in 1930's. The buildings dated back to at least the 1700s.

After digging down 2 metres, the team eventually found remains of the farmhouse – its foundations, and a wall and floor which probably once formed the cellar. Remains of other buildings were uncovered too including pigsties and an 'oasthouse'; an oasthouse is a kiln for drying hops as part of the brewing process – the hops would have come from the hop gardens which once grew at Brede High. Interesting artefacts were unearthed by the Big Dig team too. As well as pottery, glass and metalwork, they found a coin of George III dating to the late 1700s or early 1800s.

The excavations have now been filled back in and the findings have been taken for detailed analysis. But some walls have been left exposed and a new path takes visitors to these remains. Hopefully, an information board will be made so that future visitors can learn from the archaeologists' findings.