Staplecross

EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL: ‘Keep Well, Keep Warm’ ~ It’s quite hard to imagine and remember, that just a short time ago, we were all enjoying beautiful late warm sunshine as we were treated to an ‘Indian summer’ and whilst we may still be benefiting from some sunny days, the outside temperature is set to drop now as we head into our Winter season. Being cold isn’t just uncomfortable - it can be very bad for your health and in particular for our older folk or those with existing health conditions, it could also increase the risk of heart attacks, stroke, breathing problems and bad chests. The ESCC -Dept. of Health booklet includes lots of information about sources of financial help to heat your home and details of other organisations that may be able to help you. You can download it from the website: nhs.uk/livewell/winterhealth or contact Social Care Direct on:03456 080191. They have also suggested a few ‘handy hints’ on keeping warm, safe and well this winter which include: ~ Getting a free flu jab. ~ Check your prescription medicines and make sure you have sufficient to last through the cold weather. ~ Keep your home at the right temperature and if possible set your heating to 18-21’C (65-70’F) ~ Hot meals and drinks will help keep you warm. If getting out may be difficult, keep a stock of tinned, dried and frozen food in your store cupboard. Remember also, several thin layers of clothing is better and warmer than one or two thick ones. ~ Keep active indoors, if you can. Try to move around at least once an hour. If your mobility is limited, try out some armchair exercises or just wriggle your fingers & toes ! They may look a bit daft, but these can be of enormous benefit to you. ~ Have your heating & cooking appliances checked - carbon monoxide is a killer! ~ Electric blankets need to be kept in good condition and remember never use a hot water bottle at the same time. Our own Fire & Rescue Service Dept. will be able to check this item for you. Look after yourself and check on older neighbours or relatives to make sure they also are ‘Safe, Warm & Well’. If you need it, there are grants and benefits to help heat your home more efficiently, or help with bills. If you are over 65 or disabled, or if anyone in your household is disabled, or if you are a family with children and on a low income, you may qualify for this service which includes;~ A Full assessment of your home & how to keep it warm,* small preventative works, such as improving insulation, clearing gutters or chimneys,* providing emergency temporary heating,* advice on getting help with the cost of heating your home. You can also find outmore about heating your home efficiently by contacting the Energy Saving Trust 0300-1231234 or http://www.energysavingtrust.co.uk/ and the Met Office -Get Ready for Winter at metoffice.gov.uk/getreadyforwinter For all further information please contact [email protected] - ‘Stay well & warm’.

ROTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL: ‘Christmas Car Parking Cheer’ ~Just to prove that all is not doom & gloom throughout our region,~ on a par with last year, Rother District Council have agreed to suspend ‘Pay & Display’ charges on selected Saturdays on the run up to the Christmas Festive season. R.D.C. have announced dates when the usual parking charges in it’s off- street pay & display car parks in Battle, Bexhill & Rye will be waived. These charges will be suspended in Battle on December 10th and 17th and in Bexhill and Rye on December 3rd. 10th & 17th.Rother District Council leader Cllr Carl Maynard says “ As is now customary, we like to offer shoppers the chance to park without charge as the Festive Season gets into full swing. Hopefully, this initiative will encourage more people to support local businesses and to enjoy the special atmosphere which exists in our town centres at this time of the year”. Concession parking days have been set in conjunction with Chambers of Commerce, Town Teams, Coastal Community Groups and Traders Associations. Please be aware though, - parking rules ~ including time limits on spaces will still apply and anyone NOT complying with these conditions, will still be liable for the standard charge. More information is available at http://www.rother.gov.uk/carparks

STAPLECROSS MC PRIMARY SCHOOL: This is just a quick short notice to remind all and sundry that the M.U.G.A. (Multi-Use-Games-Area - to the uninitiated-) is now up and running and is available for use- by all - at weekends and will also be available for use during the Christmas School holidays. This arena, after much fund raising and support from local businesses, together with a generous grant from the Ewhurst Parish Council was finally brought to fruition and is a very popular addition not only to the school and their pupils, but to the community as a whole. This is the place to go now that fields, grasslands (& back gardens) are wet, slippery and muddy. Here at the MUGA you can play a variety of sports, e.g. netball, football and hoop ball as well as many other games. - you could even devise one of your own. We all know that sport is good for us, for a variety of reasons, so why not arrange to come down and give it a try. Please contact the school in the first instance on 01580~830256 or email: [email protected] Getting exercise and being out in the fresh air and having fun at the same time, could be just what you need to help you enjoy that oversize Christmas Dinner just a bit more !. Please give it a go !.

ROTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL: Businesses in Rother are invited to attend the fourth and final meeting in a series of free events aimed at helping them improve and grow. RDC is working with business coaching and support company ‘Pro-actions’ to put on four business seminars this year in Battle, Bexhill and Rye. This last seminar, entitled “Time Management Secrets of Effective and Successful Businesses” will be held at Rye Town Hall, Market Square, Rye on Tuesday December 6th.between 9.30am and 12.30pm. Businesses attending will receive information, tips and advice on techniques to help them improve their sales success rates and win more customers. Cllr Martin Kenward, RDC Deputy Leader and Business & Voluntary Sector Liaison, said “It’s vital that we do whatever we can to work with partners to help boost the district’s economy. These seminars will offer companies a fantastic opportunity to benefit from expert advice and guidance which can help them to grow and develop. The events are completely free, but places are limited and booking is essential, - so I’d urge businesses to reserve their place as soon as possible to ensure they don’t miss out. Anyone who would like to attend any of these seminars can book their place by calling Pro-actions on 03333~440517 or by visiting the events page of the website at http://www.pro-actions.com/events

STAPLECROSS BONFIRE SOCIETY: Just a last and gentle reminder that the members of this much loved local Bonfire Society, would like to invite any resident of the parish ( & possibly beyond) to come along on Saturday December 3rd - that’s TOMORROW - and join them for their annual Christmas Carol Service. This is always a wonderful evening which begins when we all meet up at the War Memorial in Staplecross, - (opposite the Cross Inn !) at 6.15pm. Many of the member’s will be dressed in the society’s well known ‘uniform’ and with the added excitement, nostalgia and wonder by way of dozens of flaming torches, lighting our way, will accompany the group on the very short distance along Northiam Road, to St. Mark’s church for the Carol Service. How many people can say they have experienced that , I wonder ? Following the beautiful service, the society will then present their donations to the local organisations and good causes that they have elected to support this year. This is as a result of all the events that the society have organised and hosted throughout the year, and which no doubt, many of you will have contributed and supported along the way. Why not pop along and see what all their hard work, and your support has achieved. This is such a lovely evening, guaranteed to bring a ‘feel-good’ feeling to all who attend, and with mulled wine, mince pies and other festive nibbles in abundance, you really will remember the true story of Christmas. Everyone is welcome, - of all ages, so please come and join us.

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Still making the most of this refreshing weather, the members of this popular and busy walking group have two (2) more walks for us to enjoy if we so wish. Walk No: 1 is 8.5 mile circular tour of Uckfield to Fletching. Arranged to take place on Sunday December 4th - the meeting place is the central car park in Uckfield OS EXP135. TQ471213 (SatNavT22 1JY) at 10.00am. The walk notes state “ the car park is on the left going up the hill in the Town Centre.” As always a picnic lunch is suggested - but a pub is available for all those that want a ‘swift pint’ ! Rita and Lionel will be your ‘walk leaders’ for this outing and you may contact them on 01424~752452 for further information. There’s no excuse for not joining in the next walk as it’s right on our doorstep!. Walk No:2 is planned for Wednesday December 7th. and is an 8.5 mile circular meander from Ewhurst Green via Bodiam and Salehurst. Especially glorious at this time of the year. The meeting point is at Ewhurst Green village - at the White Dog Inn (-opposite St. James church.) OS EXP136. TQ796246. (SatNavTN32 5TE) again at 10.00am. Walking notes state Roadside parking - but please be aware these are narrow lanes, so please ‘park prettily’. Once more a picnic lunch is suggested - or you could pop in to this superb pub afterwards for superb food ! - Best to check first for table availability and menu, by calling 01580~830264, as this is a very popular sociable pub. -Martin is to be your ‘walk leader’ on this occasion and you may contact him on 01424~752793 for any more details.

EAST SUSSEX MOBILE LIBRARY: Once more, we look forward to welcoming the little Mobile Library Service as the van, carrying all the exciting goodies on board, wends it’s way through our little countryside lanes on it’s way to our outlying rural communities. This sadly, will be it’s only visit for the month of December, so please make sure you don’t miss it ~ and remember to stock up on your book quota to tide you over until it returns in January (19th) 2017. The little van will first call to Staplecross, on Thursday December 8th. where it will park in Cricketers Field, between 1.40pm and 2.10pm. Following on from that session, it will then meander down to Cripps Corner, - where it will now use the car park of the ‘Direct Recovery Yard between 2.20pm and 2.45pm. for the foreseeable future. This venue is on the Battle Road, just over the bridge, toward Swailes Green. The residents of this little hamlet can then avail themselves of this vital and much needed service. This is a relatively new ‘stopping place’ - due to the closure of the local pub and uncertainty of it’s proposed future, please do still make as much use of the facilities on board when the van visits your areas. The Library is about more than just books, so please come along and see for yourself and help keep this service going for the benefit of all who live in our outlying rural areas and perhaps, cannot always easily access the Main Branch facilities

CHURCH SERVICES: Church services for the parish of Ewhurst will commence at St, James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday December 4th. Advent 4. at 9.30am. This service will include Holy Communion. A Family Service which will also include Holy Communion, will follow directly afterwards at St. Giles church, Bodiam at 11.15 am. 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, 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,-especially as Christmas is sneaking up on us - 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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