Staplecross

STAPLECROSS VILLAGE HALL: Another ‘blooming event’ - but unhappily, nowhere nearly as exciting as that above, - is the APPEAL for any willing & able helping hands to help with the Staplecross Village Hall ‘Tidy-Up’ session, which is planned for this Saturday July 16th. from 10.00am onwards. As mentioned previously in this column, the grass verges and front lawn that surround our Village Hall are really in a bit of a state and are in desperate need of a spruce, - well more of a short back & sides cut, than a trim ! If any resident can spare just an hour (or however long you wish to stay) to help in cutting back the overgrown & unkempt hedging, the unwanted weeds etc. that have sneaked in underneath the trees along the borders and boundaries and front flower bed, - your time will be so very gratefully accepted and certainly put to good use. This Village Hall is such an asset to our community and it belongs to us all, so please pop along for however long you can spare, and help in this great - but simple - “Tidy-Up’ session. Please bring along your own gardening implements, gloves, etc. & perhaps a bag/sack or two, to place all the garden greenery and rubbish collected during this clean/tidy up and that will be taken to the tip later. Refreshments of course will be supplied to help keep all the minds motivated and willing hands working willingly onwards.

ROTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL: For any resident who has the unfortunate experience of having to travel via the railways, during the RMT industrial action here in the South East region, whether for business or pleasure - may be interested to learn that a letter - sent on behalf of GTR Chief Operating Officer, Dyan Crowther,- regarding their plans to introduce a temporary amended Southern & Gatwick Express timetable in order to give passengers more certainty and to help them plan their journeys. The latest timetables, reference map, FAQ’s and travel advice are available to all on their website at www.southernrailways.com/revisedtimetable. This revised timetable is expected to operate initially for the next four weeks (beginning 11/July)- until further notice, and will be regularly reviewed. Customers are encouraged to claim any compensation that they may be entitled to, including enhanced compensation. Full details of this are available online at www.southernrailway.com/compensation.

THE HERDMAN PAVILION: Another exciting opportunity is coming along for ALL young cricketers, - both Boys and Girls - between the ages of 6 and 12 who would like to either learn the art of cricket or improve their skills in this very popular sport. FREE cricket coaching will be held at the Herdman Pavilion and Field at Ewhurst Green (SatNav TN32 5TB) on Saturday mornings from Saturday July 23rd until Saturday September 3rd inclusive and between 10.00am and 12.Noon. Please bring the appropriate sport gear, - tee shirt, joggers and trainers. Please note grown-ups, there is limited parking on the road only, NOT on any pathways, please, -- so please park prettily and be considerate to the residents. For all further information of this superb free sporting chance, please contact Dave Perkins on 01580 ~ 830469 who would be delighted to tell you all that’s involved.

EWHURST FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS: As many of you are aware, this fabulous new 3 day event is set to take place over the week-end of Friday 29th July to Sunday 31st July 2016 between 10.30am and 4.30pm. This exciting project will also include an enchanting evening concert featuring well known Glyndebourne soprano, Charlotte Beament and the a cappella singing group,- Green Street Blues. The festival will also be holding on Sunday July 31st - a Thanksgiving Service for the ministry of our Reverend Gordon Winchester. who recently passed away. Much needed funds are hoping to be raised through this marvellous festival via kind donations; and by purchasing some of the lovely plants and/or delicious cakes that will be available to catch both your eye and purse strings ! together with enjoying the variety of refreshments on offer throughout the day. The aim is to give good publicity to local businesses and to extend the popularity of our very beautiful church. Sadly, like so many other good causes, additional funds need to be generated to help maintain this wonderful heritage, so any donations, however large or small, will always be gratefully received and so appreciated. Also, if you can spare - just an hour even - to help in the serving, selling or stewarding some-time throughout this festival, then do please contact Ruth on 01580~831918 and offer your services. The success of this first exciting venture depends not only on those coming to view the fantastic displays of flowers and enjoy all that is available for their delight and entertainment - but for all those who (hidden back-stage) made it so.

STAPLECROSS BOWLS CLUB: Continuing with their busy summer schedule the members of the local outdoor bowls group have three (3) more fixtures to contend with this week. Game No: 1 is a match against Ninfield and will be played on the club’s spotless lawns in Northiam Road, Staplecross on Saturday July 16th and will be part of the ‘Rother League’. Match No: 2 is an away game at Tenterden and is to be contested on Sunday July 17th - this match is part of the ‘Mermaid League’. Back on home ground and for the last but certainly not least, match of the week, the team will meet Northiam and do battle again on Wednesday July 20th. The game will commence at 6.00pm and this also will form part of the ‘Mermaid League’. If you are able to come along and show your support, then please do as this is always much appreciated. For all further information of how to become more involved in this club, either by playing or by supporting, then please contact Brian on 01580~830470, who would love to hear from you.

STAPLECROSS STOOLBALL CLUB: Only one (1) fixture on my list this week and sadly, this is to be an away match against Brightling on Tuesday July 19th. But don’t despair folks, there’s more exciting matches to look forward to in the coming months. If you’d like further details on how to be a part of this energetic but very friendly sports club, then please contact - in the first instance- Pauline on 01580~830470.

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Still continuing to enjoy our English summer, including our unreliable English weather are the members of the Rother Ramblers and with two (2) more walks to delight and inspire us this week, it’s easy to see why. Walk No: 1 is arranged for Saturday July 16th and will be an 8.5 circular walk going North from Pevensey, which will be mainly flat but will include some of the famous 1066 Walk. The meeting point will be the famous ‘canon’ the west of Pevensey Castle. OS EXP124. TQ642046. (SatNav BN24 5LJ) at 10.15am. Parking is available in the nearby roads, or the actual Castle car park. The ‘walk notes’ state the Bus 99 from Hastings & Bexhill has a 10 minute walk through village & Castle grounds and train to Westham arrives 9.48 am with a 10.minute walk towards Castle. Please check train timetables in view of current disruptions ~ at http://www.southernrailway.com/visedtimetable. As usual, a picnic lunch is suggested. Janet will be your ‘walk leader’ for today and you may contact her on 01424~420570 for all further details. Walk No: 2 is completely different and once more in the opposite direction. Planned for Wednesday July 20th this will be an 8 circular mile meander entitled ‘Two Valleys Circular’. The meeting place for this trip will be in Icklesham, near to Broad Street. OS EXP124. TQ863162. (SatNav TN36 4AR) at 10.00am. The notes for this walk state that it will be an undulating walk through both the Brede and Tillingham Valleys and with a picnic lunch to enjoy within the stunning scenery this promises to be a lovely stroll for everyone. Frances will be your ‘walk leader’ on this occasion and you may contact her on 01424~752452 for more information.

STAPLECROSS LUNCHEON CLUB: Once more the members of this lovely little Dining Group will be meeting on Wednesday July 20th. from 12.30pm in the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross. As stated before, new members (of 50 years young and over!) are still desperately needed to help keep this very friendly and happy social group from becoming just another sad village reminder of yet another lost activity. On the menu this month, and back by popular request, will be that firm favourite - Roast Pork with all fresh seasonal vegetables followed by delicious Crepes with an Orange Sauce for dessert. All this, for the miserly sum of £6:00 per person. including tea/coffee to finish with.If this is not to your taste - or dietary needs - then please let the organisers know, and an alternative meal can always be provided for you. The menu’s are always very varied, delicious, plentiful, reasonable and freshly cooked and with no clearing up or washing up involved, there’s really no reason for you not to come & be a part of it. -- so no excuses. ‘Rules’ are few & far between, - you have to be ‘of a certain age’,- and promise, whenever possible to attend each month - this avoids unnecessary wastage in food, time, money and energy - so important in this day and age, when economy matters. You don’t even have to live within the parish as many of our valued diners come from outside our villages. Also, you don’t have to have lived in the community for a generation or more, before you are ‘entitled’ to join. This means that if you have recently moved into the parish, in any of our three villages, then this could be just the opportunity you need to make new contacts, colleagues and of course, new friends. So please, just give the two organisers a ring - Sally on 01580~830000 or Dennis on 01580~830816 for all further details and to make your reservation. Please come along and support us, and you’ll soon be a very welcome and much valued member of this lovely, sociable dining group.

OUT & ABOUT: ST. MICHAEL’S HOSPICE - ‘Open Garden Scheme’ - Today, Tuesday July 19th is the turn of Northiam village to play host to this wonderful fund-raising scheme which gives such pleasure to so many people. There are just two gardens to explore today, one of which is “South Grange” in Quickbourne Lane, TN31 6QY and is home to an astonishing variety of plants, perennials, trees & shrubs for year round interest. It also includes a veggie plot, a wildlife pond and an orchard with meadow flowers and woodland. Garden No:2 is “Glebe House”, situated in Main Street, TN31 6NH. This delightful rectory garden has been expertly designed to provide shape, colour and variety from Spring through to Autumn. There a formal fish pond , a contrasting wildlife pond in the paddock, a veggie patch and lovely specimen trees throughout the garden. It is worth noting that refreshments will be available from here. These gardens will be open between 10.30am and 4.00pm. Cost of admission is £5:00 per person but sadly although guide dogs will be admitted, there is no wheelchair access to either garden. Parking is signposted. How to get there: From Hastings, head North on A21 and take A28 to Broad Oak/Northiam, upon arriving in the village, follow the ‘Open Gardens’ signage. For “South Grange” - from Northiam village centre, follow Beales Lane and then turn into Quickbourne Lane. Enjoy them both.

CHURCH SERVICES: Church services for the parish of Ewhurst will commence at St, James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday July 17th. Trinity 8. at 9.30am. This service will include Holy Communion. A Service will follow directly after at St. Giles church, Bodiam at 11.15 am. This service will also include Holy Communion (BCP). There will be NO SERVICE at St. Mark’s church, Staplecross today and if there is any church matter on which you feel you may need further assistance, or guidance,- baptisms, weddings or sadly funerals; - then do please get in touch. You may contact either of the churchwardens ~ Graham Peters -on [email protected] and telephone no: 01580~830203 for Bodiam church matters and for Ewhurst Parish church matters, please contact Jo Goodwin-on [email protected] and telephone no: 01580~830601. Help in some form or another, is always at hand, so do please contact them.

PLEASE CONTACT ME: If you are arranging an event in the near future, however large or small and you’d like some extra coverage for it,- courtesy of the Observer newspaper, - then please get in touch. If it’s of interest to you, - it’s of interest to us. It’s never too early to send in your details and to tell us what you are planning and in view of approaching additional child care due to end of school terms; summer holidays and sneaky weekends away, please send them in as soon as you can, - this will also allow for fuller coverage in wider areas, - so please do contact me, as I’d love to hear from you and to help ‘spread the word’ on your behalf ........Thank You.

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