Fairlight

Readers may have cottoned on to last week’s deliberate mistake about there being ‘no fewer than 17 gardens awaiting your pleasure’, as that statement ignored the planners’ acknowledgement of the British triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number 13, and so there was no garden 13!

In addition to all those awaiting the influx arising from the fact that no fewer than 300 people paid £1,500 for their tickets, and it seemed probable that fully half of them were not Fairlight residents, great credit must go to the hi-viz jacketed marshals, readily advising non-residents on the best spot from which to park and walk!

While it is true that the necessary funds are in place for Stage III of the Rockmead Road berm, cliff erosion is not a one-off we can now all forget about. Reserve funds are likely to be an essential in years to come, and it was with this thought in mind that Chairman Denise Lamb and her committee mounted the Open Gardens project, thinking that maybe £2,000 would be a worthwhile outcome. In the event, it transpires that the total stands at a staggering £4,267.71, and they’re still counting!

The Queen’s Birthday Celebration Street Party: A further great success immediately followed the Open Gardens on the Saturday, in the village hall from 4.30 to 7 pm, and in the car park and on the street, too. The bring and share food supply was generous and highly enjoyable, whether you ate inside or out, and the entertainment was by Hall & Blokes Ukulele Group, a latter-day nod to the 70’s and 80’s Hall and Oates, led by Ken Hall and featuring Ken Hatch on bass guitar.

John Pulfer: Our congratulations go to John Pulfer of Channel Way on the award of the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, ‘for services to the Pett Level Rescue Boat Association and the community in Fairlight, East Sussex’. This deserved award will come as a surprise to no one, as John raised fund-raising for the Rescue Boat to an art form, warranting our thanks as well as those congratulations.

Church Matters: There is one service in the Parish this Sunday, when there will be Parish Communion at 10.30 am at St Andrew’s

At MOPPs: Today, Friday, June 17, the entertainment will have the support, in the background, of the offered eye tests by Sean from Eye Concern, and the food for the day is roast chicken with peaches and custard to follow. Next Friday, June 24, Matthew Clements, from Sussex Police, will be along with a film and talk about ‘Scams, Nuisance Calls, Doorstep Sellers and more’. That’s also the day when the East Sussex Hearing Resource Centre bus will be visiting, which it does on the last Friday of every other month, and they will have free hearing aid maintenance available for NHS aids. After all this, lunch will consist of cottage pie with gateau for pud.

Don’t forget that on Sunday week, June 26, there is another chance to have an excellent Cream Tea and entertainment, all for a fiver, and in the village hall starting at 3pm. Featured artistes will be group chairman Jim Saphin, as well as Sharon Sellens and Carol George. This fund raiser not only deserves your support, but will give you a very pleasant afternoon out!

Fairlight Bowls Club: A week tomorrow, Saturday, June 25, is the date for the Bowls Club’s Open Day, from 11 am to 3 pm. Why not find out if bowls could be your ‘thing’? Many have tried and found they love it! Chairman Sylvia Taylor has more details if you need them. She’s on 813518.

Fairlight Gardening Club: Did you make a note of the timing for the Club’s next meeting, on Monday, July 4, will be an evening talk at 7 pm? You’ll be able to hear Stephen Harmer telling the history of Sissinghurst Castle and gardens.

Fish Van: Many find the weekly Friday visit of the Fish Van handy, convenient and useful. If you’re contemplating a fish supper later today, it won’t be coming from our van, which will be absent this week. Despair not, it’s only this week when you will have to do without or go elsewhere.

Continental Coaches: No, not gesticulating, over enthusiastic Euro football bosses, but ordinary busses full, usually, of young foreigners. In a sure sign that summer is with us, despite the lack of sun, the vision of a big, modern coach cruising up Broadway, and then laboriously reversing all the way out again once the centime has dropped, is with us yet again.

Pett Methodist Church: It’s the Church Anniversary this weekend on Sunday, June 19, when they are mounting an art exhibition. This will be open on both days, starting tomorrow, Saturday, June 18, and will feature works by some local artists. There will also be fine flower arrangements to add to your viewing pleasure. The exhibition opens on the Saturday at 10.30 am, while on Sunday, opening is at 12.30 pm (following the anniversary morning service with Rev Dawn Carn.) Lunches and teas will be available on both days. At 6 pm on the Sunday, the celebrations will come to a conclusion with Songs of Praise. Well worth a visit on one of the days, methinks.

Quiz Night at The Cove: Bob and Dec’s always highly popular quiz series at the Cove continues on Wednesday, July 6, at 8 pm. This time round it’s a Movie Quiz. £2 a head entry in teams to a maximum of 6. Contact Bob for more details – he’s on 812128.

The Wine and Social Club: A reminder that the Club meeting on Monday, July 11 from 7 to 11 pm, will be the themed evening ‘Turkish Delights’. Members should ensure that Jill Lewing, on 812340, knows they will be going, and to take along drinks and glasses. Food will, of course, be provided.

On Monday evening this week, the weather just about held, thus giving 42 people a pleasant petanque session and a chance to enjoy a great ploughman’s supper. The competitive side of the event was won by Frank and Dot James along with Tony Mathews and Bill Barker.

Holding their horses: A message has been received from Murray Davidson, Environment and Natural Resources Manager for Hastings Borough Council, in which he says ‘as part of our continuing sustainable management at Hastings Country Park we have invited Frankie Woodgate and her heavy shire-type horses for four days from June 20. The horse drawn rollers are a traditional way of managing bracken in areas where it is impossible for modern machinery to access.

The horses will focus on an area of Warren Glen where bracken is a particular issue. The rollers bruise the bracken reducing its vigour over time. The horses were a great attraction last year and they made a significant impact on the areas of bracken where they worked previously. If you haven’t seen the Horses in action, it is well worth a visit as this is a great opportunity to see one of the innovative tools being employed to manage Hastings Country Park Nature Reserve.

The Fairlight Players: The Players 66th Annual General Meeting will be held in the village hall on Saturday next, June 25 at 7.30 pm. The meeting will be followed by a quiz. So they can cater for the social please reply by June 17 (that’s today!) either by putting a note in the tin in the Post Office, or by calling 812595.

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