Northiam

Northiam’s Procession is on Saturday 20th October, with bar and food on the field from 6.30pm. The procession will leave at 7.30pm, turning at the Ewhurst Lane/Beales Lane triangle getting back to the field in time to light the Bonfire at about 8.30pm and then the Fireworks!

Bonfire Societies will be wearing their distinctive costumes and carry flaming torches, and no Bonfire Procession would be complete without drums!

There will be live music before the Procession and after the fireworks.

Entry to the Field is just £1, but we hope you will want to give generously to the charity collectors along the way (rattling our distinctive purple buckets). This year’s good causes are Northiam 75 Football Club and an overhead projector for St Mary’s Church.

You are advised to bring a torch!

For more information: northiambonfiresociety.co.uk

Guy Competition: On Saturday morning, bring your Guys to the village green (opp Northiam DIY) by 12 noon for judging, after which they will be taken to take their place on the bonfire.

Douglas Moloney have donated some generous prizes – Amazon vouchers of £25, £15 and £10 – so dig out your old clothes and join in!

Budgerigar Society: Lovers of our feathered friends will be meeting in the Jenkins Room at 7pm on Monday. The Budgerigar Society are always keen to welcome new members, so do pop along and introduce yourself.

Hist & Lit: The second talk of the season is Family Life in the 20th Century, presented by John Howlett. The meeting starts at 7.30pm in Northiam Village Hall on Tuesday. A local author of the Harry Cardwell series of novels, John is a multi-talented storyteller via stage, screen, radio, TV and in person. Membership of the Historical and Literary Society is £10 for the season of 10 varied talks – please ask to join at the door.

Thursday Seniors: Every Thursday, Seniors’ Club meets in Northiam Village Hall from 10.30am until 2.30pm. All pensioners are welcome, and free door to door transport can be arranged for anyone in Northiam, Beckley, Peasmarsh and Broad Oak if you are on the Rye Community Bus route. The cost is £8 and includes welcome tea/coffee, a freshly cooked two course meal, extend chair exercises and a talk/entertainment. Call Ann 252343 or Joan 252568 to find out more as a member or a helper.

CAB: The Citizens Advice Bureau will be in the Village Hall on Thursday 10am – 12noon to offer help and advice on a range of issues.

Bank: The mobile Natwest Bank calls on Thursdays, 2.45-3.30pm in the Village Hall car park.

St Michael’s Hospice: The popular Coffee Morning for St Michael’s Hospice will be held in Northiam Village Hall on Saturday 3rd November. Come along to enjoy a coffee and a chat, or browse the stalls – gifts, books, bric-a-brac, cakes, scarves, candles, raffle, tombola – it’s all there!! The Hospice will be selling a few Christmassy items as well as cards and calendars, so there will be plenty to spend your money on! Donations will be very welcome. Please contact Sue Cheesley ( 252805) if you are able to make donations of any type including raffle prizes or bottles for the tombola.

Bereavement Service: At this time of year, we remember not only those who gave their lives in war and conflict, but also those we have loved and lost. St Mary’s Church will be holding a Bereavement Service on Sunday 4th November at 4pm for anyone who would like to remember a loved one, either recently or in the past. It will be a simple service of hymns, readings and prayers, with the opportunity (for anyone who would like to) to light a candle as a symbol of love, remembrance and prayer. Afterwards there will be tea and cake.

This service is open to everyone, whether or not they or their loved one had any link to St Mary’s.

Remembrance: This is a special year, commemorating 100 years since the end of the Great War, and there will be a weekend of remembrance 9-11th November, with an exhibition in the Village Hall, Remembrance Service at St Mary’s and the War Memorial and a Concert on Sunday afternoon featuring readings, poetry and music. Once again we are privileged to have renowned soprano Tomasin Trezise accompanied by Northiam Chamber Orchestra. The weekend will close with the lighting of the beacon. If you have any memorabilia or memories which could form part of this exhibition, please contact Mervyn Hayes (253443).

Chitiwiri: Great excitement last month at Chitiwiri because the container arrived!! Children don’t get presents at Chitiwiri as there isn’t money to spare, so to receive all these goodies is wonderful for them. Special thanks to the Blind Club at Mountfield who learnt the pattern to make knitted teddies off by heart and regularly give Sally teddies for the children who like to carry them on their backs, just like their mothers carry their babies. So very touching to see!!

A big thank you must also go to everyone who supported the feeding programme for 2019. Nearly £4,500 was raised which will make a huge difference in January when it is most needed. About 35% of the younger children in the first 4 classes are not attending school at the moment through lack of food.

The teachers at Chitiwiri send their thanks for all the dictionaries that were sent. Sally will be continuing to collect smaller dictionaries suitable for the children to use for future containers. Also, any good quality suitable children’s books would be gratefully received.

Church Services: 21st : 8am Holy Communion 10.30am Come Praise