Staplecross

FAMILY TRACING: I was recently sent an email from a gentleman who is hoping to learn more about his father who lived part of his life in Battle. He writes “ I am looking into my family history and am keen to learn a little more about my mother and father, both recently deceased, you may be able to help. My father was named Stanley John Catt and lived a good part of his early life in Battle at the now replaced Battle Laundry. He died last October and I want to try to meet and reminisce any of his past with anyone who knew him. I also have a portion of his ashes to scatter on to the Battle Cricket ground, this was his passion. I have made contact with Tim Dudgeon who is a member of this club, he has been helpful but now I need to extend my enquiries further. My father had a friend and believe playing partner in Mike Buss, I am hopeful he is still around and am told he lives or lived in Staplecross, perhaps you know him or are able to forward my message to him, he may have some information for me. I am coming down to Battle in the very near future to do the scattering and will look to stay somewhere nearby. “ The writer’s name is Jeremy Catt - and he would be so grateful for any information anyone may have about his father You may contact him on [email protected] and his telephone number is 01482-482998. Everyone loves to hear past stories of family members, especially if they are no longer with us. It brings a unique insight into a part of them that we perhaps may not be aware of and what also may have helped shaped their lives and made them who they were. If you can help Jeremy in any way, do please contact him.

EAST SUSSEX HIGHWAYS---ROAD CLOSURES- CRIPPS CORNER ROAD and NORTHIAM ROAD - B2165 and A28. These road works MAY still be operational- although only scheduled for 6 days from February 13th. Due to any number of reasons, ie. poor weather conditions, breakdowns, work delays etc. and through no fault of their own, these road works may still be in progress. If this is still the case, the previous road closure conditions will continue to apply and during this time there will be ROAD CLOSURES -the B2165 the Staplecross/Cripps Corner Road will be closed to through traffic from the junction with Cripps Corner Road to the junction with A28 Junction Road. A suitable diversion route will be in place and will be signed via B2089 and A28, Northiam Road. The Highways Team have stated to do their best to give you vehicular access to your property or business, but there may be restricted access at times, so please talk to the team ‘on site’. There will be pedestrian access during this time. Rain or other poor weather may delay this work, but advance warning signs will keep us updated of these changes. ROAD-SIDE PARKING- Please park your vehicles off-road or in another location, otherwise YOUR VEHICLE MAY BE TOWED AWAY ! There will be ‘No Parking’ signs and cones on site to advise where parking is restricted. Apologies are extended if these works cause any disruptions to your bus service. Please check with the bus company for any alterations to the service during this time. If you live within the works area, then please respect the workers’ space and safety by approaching with care and consideration. They know their works causes annoying disruption and they apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Please slow down, pass wide & slow and give respect to the work crew, after all, they are here working to improve the road surface , which will give us all a more comfortable, smoother and safer journey. Thank you for your co-operation and patience whilst the highways teams carry out these essential road works. It will soon be over !.

You can find out how these works are progressing by contacting them via the following contacts -- Email: [email protected] - Phone: 0345-6080193 -Twitter: @esccroads - and Facebook: EastSussexHighways

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Two more walks to whet our appetites as February slowly draws to a close. Walk no: 1 is arranged for Sunday February 19th and is an 8.5 mile circular walk around and to the North of Chailey. The meeting place will be Chailey village hall, just south of Chailey, on the A275. OS. EXP.122. TQ394189. (SatNav BN8 4DA) at the usual time of 10.00am. Please use the parking bays furthest away from the village hall. The walk notes state ‘this walk will be in the direction of the ‘Bluebell Railway’ and a picnic lunch is again suggested. Your ‘walk leader’ for this outing is to be Adrian and you can contact him on 01273-514336 or mobile 07729-861854 for further details. Walk No:2 is a another 8.5 mile meander, but is in the opposite direction. Planned for Wednesday February 23rd, this will be a delightful walk across the Downs from Firle. The meeting point for this walk is to be the car park at the top of the Downs, beyond Firle village. OS.EXP123. TQ468058. (SatNav BN8 6LR) at the usual time of 10.00am. The walk notes suggest that this is a fairly easy walk, along part of the South Downs Way, and dog friendly. Of course, the almost obligatory picnic lunch is as always, suggested. So this walk may be just what you need to get back outside enjoying the free fresh air, in stunning scenery and amongst congenial company. Your ‘walk leader’ for this lovely lope around this beautiful part of East Sussex will be Wil, and you may contact him on 01797-260417 or mobile: 07801-189747 for all further information. This stroll into our stunning countryside will be Wil’s first walk as a leader, so please do come along and support him if you can.

EWHURST PARISH COUNCIL:The members of your parish council wish to again remind and inform all residents ( and other members of the public) who would normally use the Children’s Play Park area, at the Staplecross Playing Field, Northiam Road, Staplecross to be aware that this facility will be CLOSED from Monday February 20th for approximately 3 days. Due to concerns in regard to the condition and safety of the perimeter fencing of this play park, it was decided to replace the whole of the boundary fencing. Ewhurst Parish Council wish to apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to both adults and children alike, and hope to have this essential work carried out as quickly and efficiently as possible. The remainder of the Playing Field, - including the popular zip wire unit, will not be effected and will continue to be ‘open for business’. Please be aware also, that access to this play area may be restricted for some, if the road works as mentioned above are still ongoing. Check them out via the above contacts.

EAST SUSSEX MOBILE LIBRARY SERVICE: Our super little Mobile Library van will be back trundling along our country lanes once more, as it continues with it’s full and busy schedule. This time the little white van will be visiting Ewhurst Green on Thursday February 23rd. for it’s second and last visit to this village, for this month. The van is due to arrive at 10.40am and will be departing at 11.10am. - so please ensure that you don’t miss it. There are so many things of interest within the portals of this wonderful and so far still free, Mobile Library Service vehicle,- so please come along and find out for yourself. With the vast array of services at your fingertips, Libraries are now certainly, more than just books.

LOCAL OPEN SURGERY MEETING: This is a gentle ‘last minute’ reminder that Huw Merriman, your local member of Parliament together with Angharad Davies, your local East Sussex County Councillor and Tony Ganly, your local Rother District Councillor will be hosting a local ‘Open Surgery’ in which they would like to invite ALL Ewhurst Parish residents, to come along on Friday February 24th between 11.0am and 12.30pm. and talk to them about any local problems, issues or areas of concerns you may have. We don’t often get the chance to see our ‘local MP’ - let alone have the opportunity to discuss with them all, our concerns regarding those issues that matter to us all. Well, - Now is your chance.- come along to the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross and speak to them of what matters to you and any local concerns you may have. The Councillors, which will also include some local parish councillors, will be there to (hopefully) answer your queries and questions, discuss your concerns and take note of your comments. Tea and biscuits will be available and all will be very welcome. Today’s programme will also include a visit to our local village school, Quarry Park Business Centre and other local businesses, culminating in another ‘open surgery’ meeting at 6.00pm, again at Staplecross Village Hall. Now could be the perfect time to ‘Speak your Piece’ -- so come along and have your say!.

CHURCH SERVICES: Church services for the parish of Ewhurst, will commence at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green on Sunday February 19th. 2nd before Lent. at 9.30am. This service will include Holy Communion. A service at St. Giles church, Bodiam will follow directly after at 11.15am. This service will also include Holy Communion. There will be NO SERVICE TODAY at St. Mark’s church, Staplecross. If there is any church matter on which you feel you may need further assistance, especially Baptisms, Weddings and sadly, Funerals, then for the time being, do please get in touch with the appropriate Churchwardens: ~ For all Bodiam matters, please contact Graham Peters - email at [email protected] or telephone number 01580~830203. For all Ewhurst Parish matters please contact Jo Goodwin - email [email protected] or telephone number 01580~830601. Help in some way is always at hand and always so generously given, so do please contact them.

PLEASE CONTACT ME: If you are arranging an event in the foreseeable future, --- whatever the nature of the event and however large or small, if you’d like some extra coverage for it,- courtesy of the ‘Observer Newspaper’ then do 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 any of the details and to tell us what you are planning. Many of you will be turning your thoughts to other events in the near future - remember - Spring is just around the corner, and with the clocks soon to be ‘going forward’ - we’ll once again be on summer-time, which in turn lends itself to lots of new and exciting things to look forward to, and perhaps taking part in. 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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