News from around the clubs - February 5

Royal Naval Association, Bexhill Branch

THE meeting of the Royal Naval Association on January 25 began at Eight Bells with news from the Headquarters Circular of a ship reunion, and a request from the BBC to survivors of the Dunkirk Evacuation for material for a forthcoming programme.

Meeting as we did on the anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, it was appropriate that our speaker, Shipmate John Munro, who flew in the famous Swordfish aircraft of World-War II, should mark the occasion by giving us a most entertaining and informative talk about Burns.

He began with the observation that there are only two birthday anniversaries known and celebrated in almost every country in the world, the one on December 25 and this on January 25.

Born in Alloway, a village so small that the village call-girl was a virgin, Burn's health was ruined by severe manual labour, particularly by ploughing.

By his own efforts he learned English, French, and Latin, and Thomas Carlisle, writing to Goethe, highly praised his vast contribution to world literature.

Two shipmates were able to name the ship, HMS Canopus, which featured in our monthly competition, but neither managed the tie-break questions, so there was a draw for the prize, which went to Shipmate Dennis Cardin. Finally several shipmates carried off prizes in our monthly draw.

Our next branch Meeting, involving our Annual General Meeting, will be on Monday February 22, and our anniversary dinner will take place on Friday March 5.

All those men and women who have served in any branch of the Royal Navy or the Merchant Navy are assured of a warm welcome as new members.

In the words of our Branch Prayer, "In the response to duty we have found the gift of comradeship." This comradeship is in evidence not only at our branch meetings but also at our summer and Christmas socials, at our anniversary dinner, and at our annual Trafalgar dinner.

Information about joining the RNA, and dates of meetings and events can be obtained by telephoning 01 424 219 035.

Little Common WI

THE January meeting was opened by the President (Mrs Dorothy Pope). She wished us all a Happy New Year and followed with the singing of Jerusalem.

After the usual notices, our guest speaker was Mr Kevin Gordon who spoke with great humour on the history of the Houses of Parliament.

He was very knowledgeable and effortlessly held our interest.

We finished with tea and biscuits.

The next meeting will be at 2pm on Wednesday February 17, when the guest speaker will be Mr Allen Roffey talking about the Birds in your Garden.

Bexhill Lions Club

BEXHILL Lions Club held a special lunch, to celebrate the arrival of 2010 at The Wheatsheaf, Little Common.

The event was hosted by Lions President Avril Earnshaw, and head of the Lions Community Services group, Ken Rushbrooke.

Avril said: "The outing was arranged to provide some of the more mature local residents with the opportunity to get out of their home for a while and to meet and chat with others. We know from our own activities, and our contacts with other local organisations, that there are many elderly people in Bexhill who rarely have the chance to get out and about, either because of restricted mobility or simply the lack of driving friends or relations able to take them out, so we like to help where we can."

The lunch proved popular with the thirty invited guests and Avril said she was delighted with the feedback and positive comments: "It was a great joy to find many exchanging details and arranging to keep in contact. Comments such as, 'I've exchanged telephone numbers with new friends', 'we enjoyed being away from the four wall of our flats', 'we've found we are near neighbours', 'excellent food and company', 'my first time out for a long while', and, 'it's nice to go out on your own when it's difficult to get around'."

Avril added: "We'd like to thank all who helped make the lunch a success '“ the Wheatsheaf, the Lions who transported the guests, and especially the guests themselves who made the whole experience so enjoyable for all."

For more information on the Lions and the work they do call 0845 833 9591 (local call rate).

Rotary Club of Senlac

GEORGE Bingham, representing Emmaus (Hastings and Rother), 'the homeless charity that works' was invited to tell the story of Abbe Pierre, a French Catholic priest and poverty campaigner, who founded the charity in 1947, having heard the cry ''No one will help me '“ I will kill myself''!

Soup kitchens were organised for such people and communities were seen to appear in France which have since expanded.

The charity now operates in 36 countries. Within the UK, Emmaus has developed as a secular movement spanning 19 communities.

These communities enable people to move on from homelessness, providing work and a home in a supportive, family environment.

Companions, as residents are known, work full time collecting, renovating and reselling donated furniture. The work undertaken supports the community financially and enables residents to develop skills, rebuild their self-respect and help others in greater need.

Companions receive accommodation, food, clothing and a small weekly allowance, but for many, the greatest benefit is a fresh start.

To join a community, they sign off unemployment benefits and agree to participate in the life and work of the community and abide by its rules, for example not bringing drugs or alcohol into the community.

Each community aims to become self supporting, with any surplus donated to others in need. Within the workshop all goods are sales motivated to encourage the public to visit and purchase from a selection of goods such as suites of furniture and renovated material donations at reasonable prices. Sales can be in excess of 1,000 per week. The aim, at present with regard to housing is to raise between 300,000 - 700,000 to construct individual unit flats to offer accommodation. The organisation is managed by trustees and volunteers help in many ways including a van collection service for donated goods. Companions are enabled, through working (40 hours per week) to recover from addictions and broken relationships. Emmaus is a charitable and social business helping homeless people into work. Emmaus certainly would appear, although not widely known to be a wonderful community service and worthy of support. President John Relfe was delighted to offer a cheque donation on behalf of the Rotary Club of Senlac having learnt of a success story which works.

For more information about the Rotary Club of Senlac, please contact Rotarian Peter Stiles on 01424 733692.

East Sussex Bridge Club

RESULTS for the East Sussex Bridge Club week ending January 29:

Monday January 25

N/S First - Kathi Genders and Angela Viola, second - Gary Manley and Mike Ayres. E/W First - Vera Smith and Geoffrey Jordan, second - Les Crawford and Patrick Hutley.

Wednesday January 27

N/S First - Andy Eames and Sue Russell,

second - Tony Walker and Caroline Richardson. E/W First - Inez Richards and Norman Waterman, second - Camilla Buchanan and John Polush.

Thursday January 28

N/S First - Edna Simon and Judi Sibson, second - Anneli Barnett and Joyce Rhodes

E/W First - Ted Weare and Garrick Oliver,

second - Inez Richards and Kay Peeke.