Winchelsea

Winchelsea’s Secret Gardens are open to visitors in the next few days and there will be a range of ten gardens each day. Tomorrow (Saturday) the gardens are open from 1 to 5.30 pm for the National Gardens Scheme charity. Then on Monday 10th June the gardens are open at 2 till 5.30 pm in aid of the Memorial Hospital in Rye. Admission is £5 payable at the first garden visited where a map will be provided and there will be teas available in the New Hall from 2 pm on both days. Also during the Gardens tour the Methodist Chapel will be open from 2 to 5 pm tomorrow for visitors.

A guided walk has been arranged by Winchelsea Archaeological Society for tomorrow at 11 am. Peter Mackenzie-Smith will be leading the walk which follows the theme: World War II in Winchelsea and you will need to meet at the War Memorial in the churchyard.

Sunday services at St Thomas’s Church on the 9th June begin with Morning Worship at 10.30 am led by Revd Canon Richard Orchard. At 4 pm there will be a Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament Evensong which will be led by Revd David Sherwood.

This Sunday 9th June Dr Barry Yates is giving a guided tour of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Please meet at Rye Harbour Car Park by the Information Point at 1.50 for a 2 pm start. There is no entry cost but a suggested donation of £5 p.p. would be gratefully received by The Friends of the ancient Monuments & Museum towards the Pipewell gate Repair Appeal.

On Wednesday 12th June the Second Wednesday Society is meeting at 2.30 pm in the New Hall. The speaker on this occasion will be Julia Raguin who will be giving a talk on Monet’s Gardens. French impressionist Claude Monet was an avid gardener who grew many diverse plants in bold colours and designs that inspired his art. Following the talk a homemade tea will be served and the total cost is £1 members and £4 non-members.

A Piano Recital by Tom Harris has been arranged for Saturday 22nd June at 7 pm in St Thomas’s Church. Included in the repertoire will be music from Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin and Liszt. Tom Harris is a highly talented musician who began his musical life at the age of three and at twelve years he won first prize at the Hastings Music Festival and was also awarded the European Piano Teachers’ Association Cup for the Most Promising Pianist of Any Age. In October he takes up a place to read music at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Tickets are £10 p.p. and are on sale in advance from Winchelsea Post Office or at the door on the night.

The long-awaited premier of the Diamond Jubilee 2012 film was shown in the New Hall last Saturday to friends and residents in Winchelsea. It was thirty-five hours of filming by the students of Entertainment Workshops which they had condensed to thirty-five minutes, covering a programme of interesting events throughout 2012. The filming began with a view of the Street Party last summer to celebrate the Royal Wedding then followed the Garden Society’s Spring Show; the Summer Fete and dog show; the Wesley tree in full bloom; filming of the Red Slipper and in October Speakers Day with the Mayor and Corporation. As the year progressed there were scenes of Remembrance Day at the cenotaph with the laying of poppy wreaths; also the annual Winchelsea Singers Fun Concert; the Church Carol Service and first moments of the notorious Streete Gayme with a crowd taking the oath: ‘I saw nothing, I wasn’t there’; not to mention the unforgettable Wind in the Willows Christmas play. Accompanying the events in the film were selections of music skilfully arranged to good effect. It was enjoyable to watch and provided a chance to look back and remember that 2012 was an eventful year. After the show Tina Alexander who helped organise the event presented the gift of a video camera to the founding members of Entertainment Workshops. The film showing was in every way a great opportunity to view the accomplishments of the year and many thanks go to the students for their hard work; to the Media Teacher Aimee Taberer, also those who funded the project which included the police fund and all who supported the event. A copy of the Diamond Jubilee DVD is to be delivered to every house in Winchelsea this month and donations for Entertainment Workshops will be greatly appreciated.

Winchelsea Beach

Young people from 11-16 years of age are invited to come along to the Youth Club at the Community Hall. The Club is held on Fridays at 6.30 until 8.30 pm and admission is £1.50 per evening. If possible come and meet there this evening.

The Eucharist at St Richard’s Church on Sunday 9th June begins at 9.15 am. The service will be given by Revd Richard Orchard who will then be going to St Thomas’s Church to lead the 10.30 am service.

For all those wanting to keep fit there are activities evenings throughout the week at the Community Hall. Short Mat Bowls is held on Mondays from 2 to 4.30 pm; Pilates is Mondays 6pm and Fridays 9.30 am; Kick Boxing on Mondays from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm; Martial Arts on Tuesdays from 5 to 8 pm and Table Tennis every Thursdays from 7.30 to 10 pm. You can turn up, bring a friend and learn some new skills.