Winchelsea

Artefacts AGM: The Millennium Artefacts Society is holding its Annual General Meeting on Saturday December 3rd at 10am in the Court Hall and members are invited to attend. This society raises funds to ensure that the Town Sign on German Street, the beacon near the site where the windmill once stood and the Millennium Tapestry in the Church are preserved and well-maintained.

Lights of Love: Celebrated annually the service will take place this Sunday December 4th at 3pm in St Thomas’ and will include the lighting of the Christmas tree in the Church. The Lights of Love is an opportunity to dedicate a star or heart on a Christmas tree in memory of a loved one. At the back of the church is a display and leaflets for making the dedication and giving donations in aid of St Michael’s Hospice. Everybody is invited to come along and support this meaningful event which will be followed by light refreshments.

Edward Lear: The Literary Society is meeting earlier in the month due to Christmas arrangements and this will be on Friday December 9th at 7 for 7.30pm in the Lower Court Hall. The talk is on Edward Lear (1812-1888) and will be given by Denis Moriarty, lecturer and Study Course director who spent many years working as a BBC television producer. An English artist, author and poet Edward Lear was famous for his literary nonsense and especially his limericks, all of which continue to be enjoyed by adults and children alike. From Lear’s visits and knowledge of this area he was clearly inspired to write the following limerick:

There was an Old Lady of Winchelsea,

Who said, ‘If you needle or pin shall see,

On the floor of my room,

sweep it up with the broom!’

That exhaustive Old Lady of Winchelsea!

More on Lear: Plenty of drama and intrigue was provided last Saturday evening at the performance of King Lear by the Bowler Crab Company. This talented group of actors perform Shakespearean plays in the grounds of Half House Farm in Three Oaks and have recently started going on tour to indoor venues in East Sussex and Kent. King Lear was performed in St Mary’s Church, Rye but in the course of time Winchelsea could be a potential venue for Bowler Crab productions. Although there were lengthy, complex speeches to tackle, the performance was word-perfect and touches of humour alleviated the burgeoning tragedy of the plot. The popular trick of throwing a lychee into the audience under the pretence it was one of the Earl of Gloucester’s eyes was not used, despite nervous expectation. Being one of Shakespeare’s most significant plays King Lear is a lesson for all times. He decided to give up his power and divided his kingdom amongst his three daughters giving each according to the amount of love they showed him. However, he was deceived by the flattery and lies of two of his daughters and would not accept the truth of the third daughter.

Christmas Praise: Keith Miller and the Worship Leaders from the Methodist Circuit are back by popular demand for the third year running. Once again they will be leading the ‘Christmas celebration of Words and Music’ at the Wesley Chapel and this will be on Saturday December 10th at 10 for 10.30am. A collection will be taken for ‘Action for Children’ and after the meeting seasonal refreshments will be at hand. As always, a warm welcome awaits all.

Annual Carol Concert: The Winchelsea Singers are holding their Carol Concert on Saturday December 10th at 7pm in St Thomas’ Church and everybody is welcome to join with them. Admission is £10 at the door which includes seasonal refreshments and all proceeds will go to St Michael’s Hospice. The conductor will be Duncan Reid with Ivora Rees on piano and the organ will be played by Richard Williams.

Winchelsea Beach

Beach Clean-up: Tomorrow Saturday December 3rd is the annual Festive Beach Clean. This involves collecting the rubbish washed up along the coast following the recent storms. Please bring work gloves if you have them and meet at Rye Harbour village car park for 10 am to be finished by 1pm. Everybody invited and your labours will be rewarded afterwards with hot soup at Lime Kiln Cottage.

Carol Concert: The Winchelsea Beach Community Association is holding its annual Carol Concert on Monday December 5th at 7.30pm in the Community Hall. All are welcome to come along for some hearty Christmas carolling after which tea and mince pies will be served.

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