News from around the clubs - June 4

Bexhill and District Gardens and Allotments Society

WHEN members and friends of Bexhill and District Gardens and Allotments Society went on an outing to London, our chairman Dick Lancaster was lucky enough to have chosen the first hot weekend of spring.

Our first stop was St Paul's Cathedral, the best-known landmark, which was opened in 1711 and which continues to exhilarate and enthral visitors, many from overseas.

To sit beneath the dome, one of the largest in the world, and look up at the paintings and mosaics shining in the bright sunlight was really fabulous.

Some of our group took on the challenge of climbing up the dome. There are 257 steps to the Whispering Gallery. But this is only the start. Outside the dome is the Stone Gallery, another 119 steps and then the Golden Gallery, a further 152 steps, offering marvellous views across London.

All right for the young ones!

After refreshments in the Crypt, we boarded the coach to travel across the river to visit the Tate Modern, the national gallery of international modern and contemporary art.

This vast building had been a power station which was decommissioned in 1981 and acquired by the Tate in 2000.

It houses many displays and special exhibitions in themed groups - landscape, still-life, the nude, and history. The concept of art in this building is certainly different to the Tate Gallery further along the Embankment.

To finish the day after so much walking, we sat by the river to watch the crowds taking the sun before returning home after a lovely day's outing.

Little Common WI

THe May meeting was opened by Dorothy Pope with the singing of Jerusalem.

This month we took a vote on the annual resolution which is that all food labels should carry the country of origin - and this was unanimously passed.

A game of bingo was followed by a cream tea.

The next meeting will be held on June 16 when there will be a fashion show by Carmelina.

Enquiries to 734154.

Highwoods Preservation Society

HORSE-riders, walkers, dog-exercisers, bird-watchers, lovers of spring flowers - at this season of the year Bexhill's Highwoods attracts them all.

Whatever the season, from early morning until sunset, the woods attract a steady stream of visitors every day. Some know how close the town came to losing this much-loved local beauty spot. Others understand that maintaining a natural balance in woodland cannot be left to Nature alone. But many do not know the full story.

On Saturday, members of Highwoods Preservation Society were on hand from 6am. Inside a gazebo, visitors found display boards setting out how the society was formed in 1980 to fight a plan which would have seen the woods sold by its county council land-owners with planning permission for development with holiday chalets and touring caravans.

Visitors learned how since the campaign victory the registered charity has cared for the woods under a management agreement with Rother District Council, which has since bought the woods from the county.

The one-day exhibition showed how the society continues the ancient woodland practice of coppicing in order to provide a variety of habitat. They discovered how volunteers' researches produced such evidence of the 87-acres' rich variety of flora and fauna that it is now a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.

A refreshing free drink was offered to all visitors.

The day was a means for the society to celebrate 30 years of caring for Bexhill High Woods as a natural habitat with free public access. It was also a means of attracting new members who - like the general public - will continue to benefit from the society's work - but who will additionally receive regular newsletters updating them and be able to attend the annual meeting, when there is always an interesting speaker on the natural history topic.

Bexhill Probus Club

OUR speaker last Thursday (May 27) was Steve Chapman, the general factory manager at Ashdown Brickworks in Turkey Road.

With a lifetime in mining, and having spent the past 19 years at Ashdown, Steve gave us a PowerPoint presentation on how brick production in the 1960s compared with brick manufacture today.

Bricks are made either by extrusion, i.e. squeezed like toothpaste, or by moulding, in a similar way to making sandcastles.

Given that Ashdown has a 22-metre seam of solid clay, the site could comfortably produce quality bricks for at least another 15 years.

Ibstock, which own Ashdown, also produces a quality 'yellow' brick in Turkey Road with the clay brought to Bexhill from an old disused Ibstock site in Sittingbourne.

Steve went on to tell us how, when further developing the site, they had to re-house

four types of bats and build new badger

setts, encouraging them to move to the new setts by laying trails of peanuts and molasses.

It is always nice when you have a speaker who knows his subject inside out, and able to answer questions whilst giving his presentation.

Bexhill Horticultural Society

The second outing of our summer season left Bexhill in beautiful sunshine, which lasted all day, and enhanced our visit to Richmond Park- one of the largest Royal Parks covering 2500 acres, complete with deer, pastures and open woodlands. The views from the pleasant restaurant terrace were breathtaking, with St Paul's Cathedral visible in the far distance.

After our lunch we had a guided tour and running commentary of the Isabella Plantation- a mind blowing collection of rare trees and more especially azaleas and rhododendrons, in every imaginable colour. Candy for the eyes and truly breathtaking.

Another excellent outing organised by Stuart Wood, which was enjoyed by all. The only unpleasant aspect was the terrible London traffic but that was soon left behind once we got back into Sussex.

Hastings, Bexhill Organ and Keyboard Society

ONCE upon a time some cinema-organ enthusiasts gathered at Vic English's Leisure Music store in Sedlescombe Road North, St Leonards for the inauguration of a club with the aims of sharing the delights of keyboard music, pooling their knowledge and gaining technical experience.

When Leisure Music closed, the group moved to Manor Barn, Bexhill. By that time organs had undergone major changes, chiefly from makers in Japan and other Far East countries.

Nearly 40 years later, now at Pebsham CP School, Hastings Road, with a hall, podium, and close-up camera facilities, the society is so established that it permits the engagement of top-flight professional organists, each with his/her personal instrument.

Meeting on the last Thursday of each month at 7.30pm, annual membership now 15 includes a bi-monthly newsletter, access to a music library, free refreshments, and hearing first-class music from 'household name' performers. Acting chairman Peter Hathaway, secretary Doris Fenner and the committee will be delighted to supply details. (01424) 812529 or 214152.

Keyboard players vary in how they approach their audience. Some avoid even the merest glance. Others crouch over the keys or intent on the desk if playing from 'dots'. Few, if any, do as did one famous composer locally, and play the piano with his back to the audience (were we so frightening or merely too horrible to be glimpsed?)

Chris Powell, a name to conjure with in the organ world, did none of these. With his new instrument, the latest Roland 1890C, he faced the audience over it and smiled at us. And we smiled back. A very pleasant sight he was too, with his sparkly tuxedos, changed at the interval, something few bother to do today.

Opening brightly with Foot-tappers Chris sequed into a recent Hallelujah, (not Handel's so we didn't have to stand.) The great Glenn Miller was remembered with Pennsylvania 6500, Moonlight Serenade, and In the Mood.

A Buddy Holly tribute including That'll be the Day led into an operatic sequence. Ring of Fire was followed by Songs from the Shows: Oliver!, Phantom, Evita's Don't Cry for Me, Argentina, One from Chorus Line, If I were a Rich Man from Fiddler on the Roof and more Oliver! with Consider Yourself.

A film tune medley finalised with Love and Marriage and the Black and White Rag.

After the interval and Cliff's all-time hits Living Doll, Summer Holiday and The Young Ones, Chris changed the mood with You Raise Me Up, switching back to Blame it on the Bossa Nova and an Abba selection, ending on'¦of course, Thank You for the Music.

The Roland's piano mode was heard in Our Love is here to Stay, and I Know Why. Nautical themes ranged from What Shall We Do with a Drunken Sailor to the Skye Boat Song. Memories of Elvis closed with the American Trilogy (Battle Hymn of the Republic).

Chris's finale was greeted rapturously with Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance No.1 and Strauss's Radetsky March sending the audience homeward literally with a song in their hearts.

Did some have memories of that evening in 1972? Who knows? But weren't we glad it happened?

Marrion Wells

East Sussex Bridge Club

RESULTS for the week ending May 28:

Monday May 24:

N/S First - Kathie Genders and Angela Viola

Second - Pauline Kazi and Phyllis Davis

E/W First - John Clark and Inez Richards

Second - Mary Varela and Christine Palmer

Wednesday May 26:

First - Richard Beauprez and Barbara Herold

Second - Norman Waterman and Inez Richards

Third - Garrick Oliver and Marion Boswell

Thursday May 27:

N/S - First - Edna Simon and Pat Neate

Second - Janet Hipwell and Pat Beacon

E/W First - Vi Boniface and Gary Manley

Second - Eileen Pavey and Kathie Genders

For details of sessions or classes please contact Barbara on 01424 422118 or visit our web site on www.eastsussexbridgeclub.co.uk