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Sunday 13th January: at 10.30am Whatlington church will be holding our first Family Service for 2019 and we look forwards to welcoming both regular and new people to the church. Children and family’s are always welcome, along with everyone else.

HELLO: I hope you have all had a great Christmas and New Year. Don’t forget to let me have any events you are planning for Whatlington so that I can include them in the village voice - it would be lovely to have a full column every week. With wishes for good health and happiness to you and yours for 2019.

HELLO: Don’t forget to let me know of any village events that you would like to share it is a really good way to help provide links throughout the village and promote the community. I hope you and yours will have a joyful Christmas and look forward to hearing from you in the new year with all your news.

PARISH CHURCH NEWS: This coming Sunday there will not be a morning church service at Whatlington, instead at 3.30pm we have the rather special Whatlington Christmas Pageant.

PARISH CHURCH NEWS: Next Sunday Whatlington church will be holding our Candlelit Carol Service, starting at 10.30am. The church will have candles and tea lights all around to add to the atmosphere as we sing favourite carols and listen to Bible readings telling the Christmas story.

PARISH CHURCH NEWS: On the evening of 22nd November the film ‘Journey’s End’ was shown in Whatlington church to raise money for the charity Combat Stress. We raised a total of £85 for this very worthwhile charity, which supports those ex-servicemen and women who suffer with mental trauma arising from their service.

On Saturday evening: there was a concert given in Whatlington Church by the Whatlington Singers entitled ‘Remembrance and Reflection’ and featuring the choirs president, international opera singer Louise Winter.

In common with many other churches: the Remembrance Service at Whatlington was well attended, with many people coming to commemorate the Centenary of the Armistice. Later the church bells were rung to join in unison with others to mark the occasion.

PARISH CHURCH NEWS: This coming Sunday is of course both Remembrance Sunday and the Centenary of the signing of the Armistice in 1918. The Whatlington Service of Remembrance will be held at 10.30am on Sunday in the Parish church, where the village War Memorial is situated on the wall. The Village Hall car park will be open for church use and there will be refreshments served in the church following the service. At 11am the Last Post will be sounded in the church, followed after the two minute silence by Reveille. We hope that as many people as are able will join us for this poignant Remembrance.

PARISH CHURCH NEWS: Last Sunday there was a lovely service at 6pm for All Souls, names of departed loved ones were read out and candles lit, followed by some nice refreshments.

PARISH CHURCH NEWS: This coming Sunday the church service at Whatlington will be at 6pm, a special service for All Souls to remember departed friends and loved ones.

News from Whatlington Parish Church: The service at the village church next Sunday is an 09.15 Holy Communion. Looking further ahead to the end of the month, Oct. 28th, we have a 6pm service for All Souls, this will be to remember departed loved ones.

Sunday 14th October: Our monthly Family service this coming Sunday will be at 10.30am and as usual will be followed with refreshments.

GOOD COMPANIONS: Last week members of The Good Companions enjoyed a delicious three course “Bring & Share” lunch at the Village Hall including a glass of wine to enjoy with our meal! Thank you everyone! We welcomed Annette & Pauline to our lunch and we thank them for giving up their valuable time to join us. For the first time members enjoyed a game of Bingo after their meal; our thanks to Ben for organising.

A SAD FAREWELL: The funeral took place on Tuesday 18 September of our dear friend Albert McBride. A packed Whatlington church enjoyed a very moving service delivered by our own vicar Kevin Mepham. I’m sure Albert would have loved the opening hymn “ I cannot tell why” sung to the tune of the Londonderry Air. His brother Robin told us about many of the hardships of their family’s early life in Ireland and how Albert had worked hard to build a very successful career for himself, with his love of golf always at the centre of it. Nikki read a very moving letter of condolence from one of Albert’s close friends, which I hope was of great comfort to Annette. The service concluded with the uplifting hymn “How great thou art”. Following the service family and friends attended a private committal at Hastings Crematorium before going to Leeford Place in Whatlington for a buffet lunch. Annette would like to thank all at Leeford Place and her family and friends who have helped and supported her during the last few difficult weeks. The village will miss Albert.