There’s been a sudden surge of interest in our church, particularly with youngsters. We’re used to the trail of ramblers, history buffs, and holidaymakers (there’s a campsite just up the road) trekking past and having a look.

We’ve a fairly well-known artist buried in the churchyard, so that attracts some visitors, too, but the sudden influx of teens was initially baffling.

They hadn’t all decided to sign up for Sunday worship but it’s all to do with Pokemon Go.

In the virtual world, it turns out we have a tiny character just outside the lychgate and there’s also a Pokemon Gym there, where users can apparently battle each other in a bid to become a Pokemon master.

Our neighbour was also a little alarmed to learn they had some Pokemon eggs in their garden, coveted because they help you catch some seriously rare Pokemon but disturbing when you’re wondering why there’s a group of people peering at your shrubs.

Even at work, it seems I’m just yards away from one of these little characters.

There is now an army of people wandering about, waving their phones in the air trying to catch these things.

Getting people out and about is no bad thing, even if it is with your shoulders hunched over a phone, although, having almost knocked over one woman who was so engrossed in her screen she didn’t notice the lights had changed, I’m not a total convert.

However, the children in our village seem to be having a great time hunting these things down, that is until the server crashes, or their phone signal drops out (the joys of country life), and it’s as if their whole world has caved in.

As the Messenger reported on Friday, even schools are issuing warnings about the game and some have banned it.

As the phenomenon spreads, where will it take us?

On Friday, the Revolutionary Forces of Syria Media Office (RFS), a media outlet working to spread the messages of Syrians against Bashar al-Assasd’s presidential regime, started posting photos on social media of Syrian children holding pictures of Pokemon characters and the words: “I am here, come save me.”

If you haven’t seen them yet, they’re heartbreaking.

Some will say the photos are exploiting a tragedy, linking it to something others regard as trivial.

But if an app game can make those in charge sit up and think just a little bit more about the situation these children are in, then the campaign will have done its job.

Summer’s here and what better way to while away a sunny Sunday afternoon than listening to live music while enjoying a beer or two?

Rainham Cricket Club held its annual beer festival, with bands, plenty of food and lots of fun for the children.

This year, though, was particularly poignant for our family as some of dad’s friends named one of the barrels in his memory.

Dad wasn’t a cricketer but enjoyed several social events at the club and the beer festival was a day out he was very fond of.

So we raised a pint of Mick’s Tipple yesterday, and toasted the man we miss so much with a smile.

The club is trying to raise thousands to build a new clubhouse. You can see pictures of yesterday’s fundraiser in Friday’s Messenger and, if you can help them at the next event, please do.