Fairlight

Sunday Live: The date for the next Sunday Live event has been changed, as the planned date clashes with Fairfest. It will now be taking place at St Peter’s on Sunday, July 24 at 30 pm. As noted below, Fairfest itself is on Sunday, July 31. The reading is 2 Kings, chapter 5, ‘God’s Mathematics’.

On a clear day…: The church tower at St Andrew’s is open to all comers from now on from 2 until 5 pm on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays. Never mind the three steps to heaven, the first forty steps up the tower take you to the bell ringing room – where there are no ropes, just 8 levers which ding or dong all the bells! Another 70 steps take you past the bells themselves to the very top. There’s no charge for your visit, but an expected donation to church funds will be appreciated.

Today, and next week, at MOPPs: Today, there’s a talk entitled ‘Flotsam and Jetsam Part 2’, to be given by the accomplished local speaker Andy Dinsdale. This is to be followed by lunch of beef casserole, and then fruit jelly and cream. Next Friday, July 22, has a return visit by Keith Osbourne with his ‘Music for Health’. Lunch net week will be roast turkey with all the trimmings, with tiramisu for afters.

Open gardeners: It is hoped that as many as possible of those whose efforts in their own gardens prior to the event, plus all the meeting and greeting over the Open Weekend itself, will be present at Garden No 5 on Sunday afternoon to see principal organiser Denise Lamb present a cheque for the proceeds (£4,325 when last I heard) to David Shortman, Chairman of the Preservation Trust. With luck, the ubiquitous Ken Hall will capture the moment for us all to enjoy – and it may be elsewhere in this edition of the Observer.

The Bowls Club: were very pleased with the results from their tournament day, which saw no fewer than eighteen teams spend a fabulous afternoon on the green, each aiming to beat the rest. All players and visitors were also supporting the money raising aspect of the day, to go towards Club Captain Colin Yellop’s choice of charity – St Michaels Hospice, which will soon be the recipient of a cheque for £1350. Thanks and congratulations go to everybody who took part in the day’s activities.

Gardening Club Annual Summer Show: Tomorrow, Saturday, July 16, the Club’s Annual Show will take over the village hall, with an open session, free to all comers, from 2 to 3.30 pm. Do go along and have a look at all the excellent displays in their countless classes, and see who leaves with all the prizes!

The Tuesday Ladies Club: The July meeting, on Tuesday next, 19, will feature P J Wellspring, talking about Air Traffic Control. Mr Wellspring is himself a former RAF pilot and RAF and civilian Air Traffic Controller. The meeting will be at the village hall at 2.15 pm. As usual, visitors, both ladies and gentlemen, are welcome for £2.

Fairfest: More good news about what you will be able to see and hear at Fairfest, which will be with us on the last day of the month, Sunday, July 31. The always popular Kytes will be playing for your delectation, as Leonard Sachs would have had it, with the live music going on until closing time, which is 10 pm. You, of course, will have been there from much earlier on the day, like 12 noon, seeing the 69 classic motors, and sampling the more than 30 stalls, as well as the hot dogs, burgers and beer tent.

Fairlight Players: Auditions for Arnold Ridley’s The Ghost Train, will take place on Monday week, July 25. Inspection scripts and a list of audition pieces are available for those who would like to participate. Give Carol Ardley a call on 814178. There are eight men and four women in the play, and they will be directed by David Burchell, ready for its run on Thursday 10, Friday 11 and Saturday 12 November.

Don’t forget that The Vicar of Dibley, last November’s Players sell-out production, is being revived at the Stables Theatre from Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 August.

You won’t want to miss this: Gemselect has new plans for their Market Garden site, and they will be on show on Monday next, July 18, in the village hall from 2.30 to 7.30 pm. It is in the interest of all residents to study these plans carefully, and record their comments. There was a similar showing of earlier plans in the Cove some years ago, with many people apparently finding the details flawed in various respects, and it will be interesting to see how the first shot difficulties have been addressed this time round.

A final reminder: for ‘Cantabile, Songs for a Summer Evening’ Concert at St. Laurence Church, Guestling at 7 pm tomorrow, Saturday, July 16. The concert will be hosted by Molly Townson, and will feature Suzan Ozkan, soprano, and Enid Graham, accompanist. The £12 tickets are available from Gill Perry, on 814578, or Molly Townson, on 812520. A number of our village residents regularly patronize events at Guestling, and tomorrow part of their reward will be the presence of Guestling Church Choir in performance.

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