Sedlescombe Village Voice

He will be sorely missed in the village of which he was a stalwart supporter. Our thoughts go out to Shirley and family at this time of loss.

• Please don’t forget that the first of the Lent hunger lunches takes place today Friday February 24 from 12noon to 1.30pm at 2 Forge Cottages, The Green.

You are invited to take part by enjoying a bowl or two of home made soup and crusty bread in warm friendly company for just £2.50.

Proceeds raised from the next five weeks lunches will go to Sedlescombe church and Farm Africa.

• The next Coffee Morning and Mini Market sponsored by the Parish Church takes place in the Village Hall from 10.00 until 11.30am on Thursday 1 March 2012.

As well as coffee and cakes, there will be the usual stalls selling cakes and jams etc, books, bric-a-brac, plants and bird food, a raffle and, for 50p, a chance to be weighed - accurately and in confidence. A warm welcome awaits you.

• You may have noticed last week that the ‘Water Colour Pinting Workshop’ for beginners should have read Watercolour Painting workshop. This is a full day workshop taking place on Saturday March 17 from 10 am to 4 pm in St. Mark’s Church Hall, Staplecross being taught by Hilary Ganly. There are a limited number of places but, if you’ve always wanted to learn or would like further details, please ring Hilary on 01580 830 704

• Sedlescombe Sports Association will be hosting their, now annual, Sports Dinner on Friday April 20 at the Brickwall Hotel.

As an added bonus this year there will be the opportunity to dance off any overindulgence. Tickets priced at £30 per head will be available from the beginning of March, for any further details at this stage please contact Ashley on 870615.

The dinner is open to all who wish to encourage sport in the local area and also enjoy a good night out!

• You may know there is a Sedlescombe Friendship Club but not sure what they offer to the community, here is some information from them to update you.

The club was founded in 2007 and as written in the constitution the aims are ‘to try to improve the welfare of the community, older people in particular and to endeavour to counteract loneliness and isolation’. The club is managed by a committee of six local volunteers. From the outset it was understood that it is not necessarily a shortage of money in the community but the need to encourage the social reaction among older people most living on their own. There is a programme of outings arranged on a six month cycle, in the two months of winter January & February two outings are arranged, just out for lunch at local restaurants or pubs offering a range of reasonably priced food.

Thereafter the outings are offered once a month but when the weather improves we go farther afield.

On the outings we aim to encourage some form of exercise mainly walking.

Some of our members are unable to walk, some can walk very well and some just a short way, whether, and how far to walk is optional.

We have 35 members and a waiting list. Transport is our largest cost particularly if we go farther afield which is not charged to our members so we undertake a fund raising programme throughout the year. We also run Extend chair bound exercises which it is hoped will improve the fitness and well being of those who attend. The exercise classes are not self funding so there is an additional need to raise funds. Recently we started computer lessons with about 8 people attending.

We are aware of the benefits of computer skills to older people such as shopping online, keeping in touch with family etc. computer lessons are self funding. We are open to and are actively looking for others ways in which we can help older people in the Village. Contact Ralph on 871415 with any ideas that you feel would be helpful to the group.

• If you have an event coming up in the local area or would like to have a small piece, outlining your club or organisation aims, activities, membership etc. then please contact me by email to [email protected] or by calling 870344.

Judy Torrance

Asselton House