Icklesham

CHURCH NEWS: The service at 9.30 am this coming Sunday, the 3rd Sunday of Lent, will be Matins, led by Lay Reader Graham Geer from Ore. There will not be a service of Matins in March, because Easter is the weekend usually apportioned for it. Famous people remembered this week include George Herbert, Priest and Poet and writer of some lovely hymns, David or Dewi, Bishop of Menevia, Patron Saint of Wales 601, and Chad, Bishop of Lichfield and missionary 672. On Friday the celebration of The Womens’ World day of Prayer will be held at St. Mary’s in Rye at 10.30 am, followed by refreshments.

LENT LUNCH: The first one was held last Friday from 12.30 pm It was fairly well attended and lively chat was going on. The home made soup was delicious. A collection was made for St. Mitchell’s Hospice. There will be the next one today, Friday 26th February, also from 12.30 pm. Do come along if you are able. If you have made a decision to give up something for Lent, this is an opportunity to have a delicious, but frugal lunch with friends. You probably know all about “40 days and 40 nights” but are you also aware that Lent is indeed 40 days, but that it does not include Sundays. That would make it 46 ! So enjoy your glass of wine on Sunday !!

LILIES: There is still time to contact Christine Overy or Janet Pegg - 814 735 - to give the name of a loved one to be remembered by the purchase of a liliy. Each one costs £2, the same as last year. You could talk to Janet at the Lent Lunch, or in church. There are also envelopes available at our Village Shop.

FUNERAL: The church was pretty well packed for the Thanksgiving service for the life and inspiration of Daphne Davies last week. Very moving tributes were paid to her and the story of her life related. It was good to see Canon Hugh Mosely giving an excellent tribute to her. What an inspiration to everyone she was, showing her deep faith in following what she believed God wanted her to do.

WEATHER: Whether the weather be cold, / Whether the weather be hot, / We’re stuck with the weather, / Whatever the weather, / Whether we like it or not. I’m writing this on Monday when it is mild and wet again. But the forecast which I saw for the week indicated that the jet stream is swooping down from Scotland to southern Spain , dragging bitterly cold winds with it. We are advised to expect frost by the end of the week. That could spoil some of the flowers out in the garden.

MANOR FARM OAST: 2016 is a year of changes for Manor Farm Oast. Since Syd and Kate have been part of the village, - some 20 years, we have always held fund raising events and have raised considerable amounts of money thanks to the generous support of those around us. However, the last two fund raising events were so poorly supported that we said we wouldn’t continue. Kate, however, has signed up to a new Challenge. During a specified week in March Kate will be undertaking 10,000 steps a day, that’s 70,000 for the week. The Charity, the Care Foundation - is raising funds for the 3rd World where girls have to forego their education in order to fetch the day’s supply of FRESH WATER, generally about 5 miles a day. That is an average of 10,000 steps. Every time you turn on your tap please think of these girls, little more than children, as young as 10 years old, trekking out in extreme temperatures purely to fetch a canister of fresh water for the day. Please support Kate in her Charity fund raising. You can give a direct payment to www.justgiving.com/katemylea or drop off a donation at Manor Farm Oast. ANYTHING you can give will be gratefully received and a huge THANK YOU in advance.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: The Society schedules are now available from Judy at the Post Office in the Co-op at Winchelsea Beach or 22, High Foords. They cost £1 each which includes membership. The first show is on Saturday 2nd April.

QUIZ REPORT: Thanks to everyone who supported the Quiz last Saturday. 16 teams entered. The 30 Somethings were going for their third consecutive win. The early pace setters were One Out All Out, Flower Power, Nobby’s Nuts, Stalybridge Celtic. Mable’s Table and High Foords Hooligans. After round 3 Casualties were being pushed by Potato Heads for the lead, Saints and Sinners along with Friends and Family, Allsorts plus Golden Arrows were in the mix at halfway. Fab 5 were having their own challenge with their husbands - Potato Heads. As the evening moved into the latter stages all eyes were on the 30 Somethings. Were they going to make their customary late challenge? The late challenge did come but it was in vain as they could only manage 7th. Flower Power were 6th, Nobby’s Nuts along with One Out All Out were joint 4th, Team Name were 3rd and there was a dead heat for first between Empty Heads and StalybridgeCeltic. A tie breaker was used with Stalybridge Celtic ending as the evening’s winners. The evening raised £343.50 for the New Pavilion Fund which was another brilliant effort by all concerned. Special thanks to John, Alan - setting up, Tracey, Hannah, Tristan, Charlie, Alison, Mena and Rachel - raffle - Sean - help during the evening, those who donated raffle prizes and bought tickets, to everyone who helped with clearing up at the end. The next Quiz will be on 12th March. Since Christmas, including the Murder Mystery, we have raised £1,460for the project. Well done to all who have supported.

IN MEMORY OF KATE WILSON: Ernie Wilson has donated £50 to the project in memory of his wife Kate who he lost recently. Kate was a member of the Horticultural Society for 28 years. Ernie, and your family, please accept our condolences at this sad time and thank you very much for this generous donation.

FORMER TRUST CHAIRMAN DONATION: Last Saturday Stuart was given a cheque from Derrick Baker - no relation - of £1,000. Derrick was a former Trust chairman. He was always proactive and supported our many fundraisers. He always sold the most Raffle Tickets for the Fete. He and his family were always available on fete day and along with his late wife Joan was very active and passionate about Icklesham. He was a stoolball supporter and player, Vice President of Icklesham Cricket Club. He is now an active supporter of our Pavilion Lottery. In all he was a Peoples’ man which made him an excellent choice for out Trust Chairman. His wife Joan dedicated much of her life to Icklesham Players and would have been devastated to see the old pavilion as it stood on Fete day. She was always at the church with her displays at Flower Festivals, always encouraging youngsters. And locally her Jumble Sales were famous. Her enthusiasm is a real loss to Icklesham. Derrick now pledges to provide pies, cakes, savouries and pastries until further notice as his sponsorship of the New Pavilion in Joan’s memory. For any orders contact Derrick Baker on 01424 814 246. Derrick says “Congratulations on all your efforts and hard work Fundraising to get a New Pavilion. I wish you every success in the future. “

QUEEN’S HEAD: The live music on Sunday 28th February will be played by the Roger Carey Trio playing acoustic covers. On Wednesday 2nd March there will be a Quiz night in aid of St. Michael’s Hospice, beginning at 8.30 pm. The question this week is “Who composed Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.”

EU: WE have David Cameron giving us reasons for voting to stay in the EU. As far as I can tell, the concessions can all be vetoed by the European Parliament. I WISH I understood it all !! Would anyone who can explain it to me please help, give me a call. We are going to be asked to vote in June before many of us have any real idea what we are voting for.

PANTOMIME: There was a lovely review in last week’s paper, giving all the actor’s names. So by a bit of detective work and correlation of that review and the report in V. V., you could work put who was who.!

CONTACT: Please let me know of any news, reports or event reports coming in. Phone 01424 815 247, pop round or use the email. It was wrong in the Parish Mag, but has now been corrected.

AND FINALLY: The Leap Year extra day is on Monday, 29th February. Beware gentlemen, ladies have the privilege of ‘popping the question ‘on the Leap day.! Then of course it is St. David’s Day on 1st March. Hope you all have a fun week.

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