Nevill

NEVILL SPORTS 1950’s: The 1950’s was the time I took part in sports day with the 100 yard sack race, egg and spoon and three legged. I am surprised these never became Olympic sports. I was always up against stiff competition in those days. The large number of boys and girls who entered, meant we had handicaps starting, if I remember correctly, in different parts of the course. The handicap was used for the running races with all the rest on the start line. Mr Breeze use to call everyone’s name for each event over the tanoy into the marshalling area and being walked over to the starting line by the likes of Horace Young, Stan Carter and Mr Flowers. Mrs Brown was in charge of the tea right up to 1992. I remember my mum and dad helping around the electricity sub-station with mum serving teas. I seem to recall my dad selling ice cream from a fridge borrowed from Mr Griffey who was the owner of the grocery shop in Middle Way. It was supplied on a sale and return basis.

COTTAGE PRE-SCHOOL: In 1968 St Marys Pre-school Cottage play group was formed by a group of local mums and is still operating today, making it the oldest playgroup in the area. Following our recent Ofsted inspection, we are pleased to announce we have achieved ‘good’ outcomes in all areas. The inspector commented that the ‘Staff are excellent role models, they are calm, gentle and polite’ and that the ‘Children develop skills for their future learning and make good progress’. Cottage is a fun and safe learning environment with great indoor and outdoor play space at St Mary’s Social Centre in Christie Road. It costs £12 for a three-hour session and they are registered for free government funded places from age 3 years (starting first term after turning 3)The inspector also concluded that the ‘Staff develop good partnerships with parents and share a range of information with them about their children’s learning experiences’. Places are available now for children aged 2 to 5 years. For further information, call 01273 479479 www.cottagepreschool.co.uk. Registered Charity Number: 1046221.

ST ANNE’S CHURCH: The lunchtime recitals start April 28 with the Ensemble Reza, followed on Thursday May 26 by the Brighton Chamber Ensemble. All recitals begin at 1pm and last 40 minutes. Refreshments will be available before and after the performance. There will be a retiring collection.

CHRIST CHURCH: Today, Friday, is our Messy Church from 10.30am. All are welcome to drop in for craft activities, celebration and lunch. The theme for today is Two Tiny Coins. Worship on Sunday at 10.30am will be led by Rev Darryl Sinclair and will include Holy Communion. Sunday Club for children will be running during the service.

SPRING SHOW: You were knocked out by the amazing scent of daffodils and hyacinths at the St Mary’s Gardening Club Spring Show at the St Mary’s Social Centre on Saturday April 2. There were gorgeous displays of spring flowers, some stunning flower arrangements and the cookery section had a good number of entries particularly some mouth-watering examples of focaccia. The Spring Show is enlivened by entries from the Rainbows and also The Cottage Pre-School. This year the Rainbows made peg doll models of the Queen in honour of her 90th birthday. The children’s inventiveness was amazing and although some dolls wore hats we were surprised to see that none of the children had depicted her with a crown: of course she is seldom seen wearing one. Malcolm French, a long-standing member of the gardening club always sponsors the Pre-school who grow a daffodil in a pot which they also decorate. He provides the money for the pots, compost and bulbs. It is always a challenge to choose a bulb which will be in flower for the show. This year we got it right and the delightful Rip van Winkle emerged on time and the children’s entries were lovely. Christine Gibson was the winner of the Corporation Cup and the Ladies Cup. Annie Hobden won the Russell Daffodil Cup and the Novice Daffodil Cup went to Alison Soudain who also won the Rosemary Cup for cookery. The certificate for the best produce exhibit was won by Charlotte Soudain. Malcolm French received the certificate for Best Daffodil and Pat Elliot was awarded the certificate for the best flower arrangement. The winners of individual classes are as follows (full name for first mention and then initial afterwards). Daffodil, yellow, white perianth Annie Hobden; daffodil, yellow, yellow perianth Pat Mitchell; daffodil, white, white perianth P Mitchell; daffodil, white, yellow perianth Alison Soudain; any colour, white perianth A Soudain; yellow, yellow perianth Malcolm French; any colour, flat crown A Hobden; any other colour, yellow perianth M French; yellow perianth P Mitchell; white perianth C Gibson; dwarf narcissus, species C Gibson; bunch flowered single/double C Gibson; other spring bulbs P Mitchell; double daffodils A Hobden; daffodil or narcissi, distinct, three kinds Rosemary Sells; daffodil, single specimen M French; daffodil, double specimen C Gibson; daffodil, single specimen grown from Salome bulb Joy Vincent; daffodil: any other type M French; hyacinth, single specimen, in a vase P Mitchell; tulips, three different varieties C Gibson; tulips, one colour P Mitchell; flowering pot plant A Hobden; cacti or succulent Brenda Greenaway; any other flower, three of a kind B Greenaway; flowering shrub, one piece, up to 2ft Marilyn Dodd; pot/bowl up to 12 inches containing at least two different varieties/species of bulb in flower A Brown; Russell Daffodil Cup, six distinct, named, in two vases A Hobden; Novice Cup, three daffodils, separate colours A Soudain; four sticks of rhubarb A Soudain; two leeks Vicki Trenhaile; mixed fruit jam A Soudain; one fruit jam Sheila Kay; marmalade, any variety A Soudain; lemon curd, up to 12oz R Sells; mature chutney S Kay; sponge cake decorated to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Beatrix Potter Charlotte Soudain; chocolate and vanilla pinwheel biscuits Jenny Webber; cherry loaf cake, 2lb loaf tin R Sells; fruit scones C Gibson; focaccia A Soudain; hand made knitted item for a baby/child up to 3 years Joy Vincent; photograph, My Favourite Plant, Gill Taylor; photograph A holiday snap, C Gibson item of handicraft C Gibson; small spring arrangement C Gibson; arrangement in a tea pot A Brown; arrangement to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday, Pat Elliott; vase of flowers and foliage picked from your own garden A Brow.

Children’s classes (age 8 and over): Drawing, painting or collage of the Easter Bunny Ellie Jupp; a bunch of spring flowers arranged in a jam-jar, Ellie Jupp; daffodil grown in a pot (the Cottage Pre-school) Sidney Hodgesmith; The Queen peg dolls (Rainbows) Gennie Hockey-Dutton.

Many thanks to all who contributed to the success of the afternoon. Alison Soudain and Jenny Webber who were in charge of the teas and other members who manned the various stalls.

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