News from around the clubs - July 3

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Royal Naval Association, Bexhill branch

SHIPMATES were pleased have news of events concerning the Navy in various parts of the country and abroad during their meeting on June 22.

After "Stand-Easy" we heard a most interesting talk by one of our shipmates. Speaking entirely without notes, he began with an account of his early life. His father had no trade, and his mother was often in hospital on account of her asthma.

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When this happened, the family of three boys and a girl were temporarily consigned to the workhouse. He set his heart upon joining the Navy as a cook, but became instead a steward. After serving aboard a destroyer on convoy duty, he found himself in Canada. There he was working on the removal of a ship's ammunition when it caught fire, and those living nearby had quickly to be removed to a place of safety.

Many shipmates signed on for duty collecting for our charities at Sainsbury's and the Co-op in August.

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. One practical advantage of membership is that the association sends to the branch details of ships' reunions, and commemorative events in this country and elsewhere, and details of how to apply for badges to which one may be entitled, such as the Veterans' Badge and the Arctic Emblem. Membership of the association ensures that such opportunities are not missed. For instance, we are hearing about the Lottery-Assisted scheme, called Heroes Return, for helping ex-servicemen to revisit places where they served during the Second World War and during more recent campaigns.

Grants are available, varying according to destination, of up to 5,500 for themselves and for their spouses and/or carers. In the Navy we rather tended to travel widely, so many of us are spoilt for choice. Information about joining the RNA, and dates of meetings and events can be obtained by telephoning 01424 219035.

East Sussex Fuchsia and Pelargonium Society

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ON Thursday, June 11 we held our monthly meeting at Catsfield Village Hall when members enjoyed a talk given by Mr Hilary Newman who has vast horticultural knowledge, having been a director of Hadlow Agricultural College, Kent. He also has great experience of working at Kew Gardens.

Mr Newman's subject was "The Great Plant Finders" and spanned the centuries from the 1600s up to the present and it was amazing to learn that many of the trees and plants that we accept as native have originated in some quite exotic areas of the world and have acclimatised to Great Britain.

The talk was accompanied by a collection of superb slides which were all explained in a most interesting and entertaining way.

On Saturday, June 13 we held our annual 'geranium' or, properly named, pelargonium show at Brede Village Hall. This was a really super show with the hall transformed into a riot of colour from the many plants on display. There were about 150 separate plants exhibited that had all been grown with a tremendous amount of care and patience and no little expertise. We had about 200 visitors to this show and comments suggest that all were well pleased with their visit.

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There were some superb plants for sale and many visitors took advantage of the opportunity to collect plants, many of which were not available at local nurseries.

The tombola table was also very busy with almost 200 prizes to be won. These prizes ranged from a bottle of whisky down to garden plants and many other goods in between.

Bexhill and District CSMA Group

THIS month's lunch club was held on June 2 at The White Horse, Bodle Street Green. It saw our biggest turn out to date. Twenty-seven of the Group attended and enjoyed an excellent meal.

On June 3 some of the group took part in a treasure hunt and cream tea organised by the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Group. Fewer than expected, of our group turned up. Was it the weather?

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At our monthly evening meeting on Tuesday June 16 we were pleased to welcome three new members.

The speaker for the evening was Edgar Walker, who is a member of our Bexhill group. The subject was the British nuclear deterrent. Mr Walker said that after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki the world was in a new age '“ the nuclear age. Mr Walker then took us back to the 19th and early 20th Centuries, discussing the many important discoveries of that age, including the structure of the atom, nuclear fission etc and the initial idea of a bomb by Frisch and Peierls, leading to the Manhattan Project and the UK's own nuclear programme from the first Blue Danube bomb through Polaris, Chevaline and eventually Trident.

The story of the UK's nuclear tests is relevant to the claims by the British Nuclear Test Veterans. Many of the thermonuclear tests were carried out in haste in an attempt to catch up with US and USSR developments before the moratorium on atmospheric testing.

On Friday, June 19, 19 members enjoyed a visit to the Bentley Wildlife Park and Motor Museum.

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The July lunch will be at The Ash Tree, Brown Bread Street, on July 7 and the speaker at our monthly evening meeting on July 21 will be Alan Spackman on Gilbert & Sullivan.

Just a reminder: our lunch meetings are at 12 noon and the monthly evening meetings are 7pm for 7.30pm. The following is a list of events:

June 25 '“ 12pm at The Wheatsheaf, Little Common. This is a joint lunch with the Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Group. 47 members are due to attend.

September 23 '”6pm at The Wheatsheaf, Little Common. This is a three-course meal for 5 only and is a "Cockney" themed evening, so get out those bright buttons and sequins.

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September 25 '“ it is proposed to visit the 1066 Brewery in Pebsham for a demonstration of beer brewing followed by a Ploughman's, for 12.

October 10 '“ at the Cooden Beach Hotel our CSMA Club headquarters are organising a "Las Vegas" evening with a live cabaret. More of this later. Details can be obtained from our secretary Tony Calton on 01424 434496.

Little Common WI

LITTLE Common held their monthly meeting in the Little Common Community Centre on June 17.

Members and visitors were warmly welcomed by President Pauline Rosner.

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At the South of England show at Ardingly we were thrilled that the short story (no more than 159 words) 'Down Memory Lane' written by Pam Waters, was awarded first prize. In another section, a bag knitted by Joan Smith and lined by Sheila Anthony and Ginny Long, got third place.

Dorothy Pope, our delegate at the Albert Hall AGM, gave an interesting account of the event.

The 90th Anniversary County Picnic is at Michelham Priory on July 6.

Our speaker this month, Mrs Trish Foley, demonstrated some easy to prepare and cook Starters And Puds. The finished results were raffled. A vote of thanks was given by Jill Nichol.

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Our next meeting is Wednesday, July 15 and will be a social event with games.

Contact number is 01424 845688.

East Sussex Bridge Club

Monday, June 15

N/S First - Barbara Jack and Richard Slatter

Second - Carol Hutley and Brian Bradley

E/W First - Inez Richarrds and John Clark

Second - Mary and David Lamdin

Wednesday, June 17

First - Kathie Genders and Sheila Stedman

Second - Josie Boryn and Barbara Herold

Third - Eileen Stray and Muriel King

Thursday, June 18

N/S First - Marie Barnett and Jean Lavery

Second - Garrick Oliver and Marion Boswell

E/W First - Alan Miley and Ted Weare

Second - Molly Bryant and Richard Slatter

For enquiries regarding sessions or lessons please contact Barbara on 01424 422118 or 07931884715

Rotary Club of Senlac

IT is not often a lady stands before the company of members of the Rotary Club of Senlac with such a life-changing story as "Look Beyond the Heart".

The story was of Nicola Langlands, a courageous person born in 1976 with half a heart '“ and doctors could do nothing.

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A challenge was set when in March, 1976 it was known the heart had two chambers and one valve '“ and she had possibly three weeks to live.

At Hastings hospital her appearance was blue and purple. In the1980s the NHS commenced performing transplants on children. In 1987, being 11 years old: "I continually waited by the telephone for a call knowing, with fingers blue and lack of oxygen I would die unless I was granted a transplant," she said. "In 1989 (September 17), the call came,the waiting ended and I was to be the twelth child in UK to receive both a heart and lung transplant, being only 13 years old!

"The next adventure was to commence '“ the thought that a young person died to save my life; the mental trauma and change within my body; a sense of no control over thoughts, shame in oneself and memories to forget.

"I needed help and support from like-minded people who could understand my dilemma and what was happening inside my body and mind.

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"I had much to learn about aftercare and the ups and downs which I would experience.

"I was profoundly grateful for life and being accepted in society. From no hope and no meaning to life I wanted to help others. Losing weight, in 1997, I became pregnant.

"During 1998 (July 11), having sapped my energy, I was blessed with an amazing gift of a baby girl, natural birth, to be named Megan, which helped my inner soul. I was the first person in the UK to have a baby naturally who had received a transplant and know of the blessing when I looked at her.

"I have become stronger and one of the reasons for forming a support group known as 'Look Beyond the Heart'.

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"Many adults and children need help and support after their transplant, eg counselling, special equipment, swimming, physiotherapy, running, day outings, art therapy."

Nicola has written a book The Story of Alfie After Care Bear which coincides with 20th anniversary of her incredible surgery. "Life has been more good than bad," she said.

Rotarians were spellbound by the speaker's sincerity and depth of emotion and confident presentation of the happenings in her life.

To loud applause, president Nigel Faulkner presented a cheque to Nicola's charity, Look Beyond the Heart.

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