Fairlight

The Fairlight Players: The Poetry Group’s next meeting is this Wednesday 18 May, 7.30 in the Village Hall. All are welcome to either read their own works or old favourites. If you don’t want to read you can just come and listen. For those of you who are putting pen to paper the theme this time is short poems or limericks of four to five lines.

The Vicar Of Dibley. For those of you who missed it, or enjoyed this excellent production so much you want to see it again the Fairlight Players are performing it once more at the Stables Theatre 25-27 August. Look for the giant poster on the theatre wall! The tickets are now on sale exclusively from The Stables. You can pre book by telephone on 01424 423221 or call in at their box office.

Parish Assembly: Today (Friday 13 May) it’s the annual Fairlight Parish Assembly starting at 6.30 pm in the Village Hall. This is a chance for every elector (ie just about anyone) to raise matters of concern. There will be a presentation on behalf of the landowner about the possible creation of a nature reserve, with related facilities, on land opposite the Post Office - “Stonelynk Valley”. This is proving to be a controversial issue. There will also be a presentation by the Rother Rural Trust, and this year’s winner of the John Lutman Award for Community Service will be announced. Light refreshments will be available. This is a meeting of you the electors, not of the Parish Council, but your councillors will be present to answer questions.

Fireworks Extravaganza: Tomorrow, Saturday 14 May, the Royal British Legion holds its Firework Extravaganza. This runs from 8.00pm to 11.30pm at the Fairlight Lodge Hotel, Martineau Lane / Fairlight Road junction. I’m told there will be £900 worth of fireworks. Tickets are £5 in advance from Fairlight Post Office, slightly more on the gate. Discounts for children and families. Drinks and snacks will be available to purchase. Enquiries to Margaret on 01424-814866.

Gardening Club: I am sure you have seen and appreciated the colourful display of tulips in flower on the Circle and in the pots which were planted last Autumn by the Fairlight Gardening Club. Thanks to the many kind donations of plants from people in the village, we should enjoy a raft of colour throughout the next few months. As many of you may have seen, working and maintaining the Circle beds and pots is quite a task and so the Club is organising a working party this coming Saturday to help with weeding, hoeing, planting and general tidying. If you have an hour or so free and would like to join in, you would be very welcome, and that applies to non-members too! Please meet at the Circle at 10.00 a.m.

For their next meeting on Monday, 6th June, the Gardening Club have organised a trip to Friary Gardens on the Ridge. The cost of the trip for members is free and £2.00 for non-members so if you would like to go along and haven’t confirmed your attendance, please ring Karen Draper on 814154 to let her know and she will arrange a lift if you don’t have your own transport. Please make your own way to Friary Gardens to meet up at 2.30 p.m.

Church Family Picnic: Also on Saturday 14 May there is a Family Picnic organised by our local churches. This runs from 11.30 am to 3.00pm at Wood Field Recreation Ground, off Commanders Walk. There will be games and Activities. Remember to bring your own picnic. The field remains open to the general public.

The Cove Pub & Restaurant: A petition is circulating for The Cove to be designated a Community Asset. If Rother District Council agrees to a formal request it would allow the community time to bid to purchase - if there is in future a danger of The Cove being sold for some other purpose. This is something many communities up and down the country have done to help preserve pubs and other assets. Let’s hope the petitioners have more success than those last year who hoped to buy the Post Office for the community. Something to talk about at the Assembly?

MOPPs: Today singer Bob Hammond entertains and Nicola the lovely toe-nail lady will be available for those who need her. Lunch will be Cold Meat, Jacket Potato and Salad with Cheesecake for dessert. Next Friday, May 20th Celia King will be back with her ever popular Chair-Based Exercises and Sean from Eye Concern will be visiting to book appointments for free NHS Sight Tests. Lunch will be Bacon Pudding followed by Gateau. Also don’t forget to put 3pm Sunday 26th June in your diaries when MOPPs will be celebrating the Queen’s 90th Birthday with a Cream Tea in Fairlight Village Hall. Further details of the event and how to buy tickets will follow in a couple of weeks.

Fairlight Art Club: The Fairlight Art Club is holding its annual Exhibition and wine and cheese evening on Saturday 21 May at Fairlight Village Hall. The doors are open from 6pm to 9pm. Come and browse works by local artists while you enjoy a glass of wine and a cheese supper. Tickets are £4 in advance or £5 on the door to include a drink and food. They are on sale at Fairlight Post Office or call 01424 813104 or 01424 814178. It’s a great evening not to be missed.

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