News from around the clubs - October 16

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Bexhill Labour Party Women's Section

At our recent meetings lots of national issues were taken up by members.

We were concerned to hear that with the takeover of Somerfield supermarket stores by the Co-operative Group that ethical trading standards for which the Co-op are well known may be suffering so have written to the chief executive for clarification. We are concerned as many Labour supporters are long time Co-op members as well as shoppers and also that Bexhill's Somerfield store will be taken over by the Co Op group.

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Again on the supermarket theme we are supporting the actionaid campaign '“ because of the devastating and ongoing effect large supermarket chains are having on workers '“ particularly women '“ in developing countries producing the goods that we the 32 million shoppers buy each week. We have written to Business Secretary Lord Mandelson to request that supermarkets be better regulated to play fair with overseas producers. And anyway why aren't they using more local British producers of food?

We are also investigating more fully the effects of the growth of renewable energy plans particularly the developments in wind/wave power and the clean coal power stations.

Locally we have secured a response from the Chief Executive of Rother District Council that there is not (at present) any intention of not holding the General Election count on the evening following the ballot next year '“ some councils have decided to count the ballots the following day.

We also asked about the last Mayor's visits to France during his year in office '“ this was a low key/friendship arrangement and not a formal town twinning and that no local taxpayers' money was used for the trips to Cllr Douart's former home town.

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A recent coffee morning raised 110 shared between the women's group and the campaign committee. A further antique valuation will be held near Christmas '“ thanks to member Mark Sivyer's expertise in this field!

Our next meeting is today at 12.30pm at 10 Magdalen Road Bexhill New Members welcome tel Secretary 220337.

Bexhill Photographic Club

MEMBERS assembled at The Friends Meeting House in Albert Road for the opening night of the competitive season on Thursday, October 1 at 7.45 pm.

The open print and slide classes were judged by the eminent Ian Betts of the Henfield Camera Club.

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This season heralded a new and popular record class, which had been voted in by members at the May AGM.

Ian, a very intelligent and worldly-wise adjudicator, started with the general class (the most popular overall) with 21 entries.

His knowledge of all topics in the class included natural history, both flora and fauna, sport (tennis), architecture, aircraft, landscape and even a cyclist pedalling along the outgoing tide on golden sands with a sunset on the horizon.

Bob Butler was the photographer for the sunset - it scored a 20 star, and was given best print of the evening.

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Portrait class was judged with equal aplomb. Ian knew of all the aspects of portraiture from the six he had to evaluate he found nothing wrong with a sweet image of Imogen.

Cliff Willard, who recently gained an accolade from the Royal Photographic Society, was the photographer and it scored 20.

Next was the record class - eight pictures were entered and Paul Hutchings won a very close contest with a 20 star, with a beautiful pastel coloured stucco emblazoned parapet taken in the Czech Republic.

Ian completed the first half of the evening giving a detailed critique of the small class which comprised of just nine prints.

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Ian commented that they were just as good quality to judge as the previous images, hardly a low mark between them.

Brian Reeves scored 20 for a magnificent common blue butterfly which was the outright winner.

However this was closely followed by three other 7x5 images two of which scored 19 and one 19 .

The average score of this class was 18 points from 20. The second half of the evening comprised of the three classes for slides. The general class attracted six entries; the winner was Paul Hutchings with his slide of a vintage RAC car badge in crisp focus and a perfectly lit image (taken at the Bexhill 100).

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This picture had already been recognised in a county competition which was confirmed by Ian, who awarded it 20 points.

The landscape class winner was Dorothy Reeves with a beautifully lit image of Langdale, Cumbria.

The last class of the slides was natural history and was also given such generous critique and time.

Ian's understanding of flowers and birds was equal to his immense photographic knowledge, he judged two separate golden eagles alongside young beech leaves and a blue-tailed damselfly, but it was Ray Noble's red fox cheekily looking back over its shoulder the instant Ray released the shutter, which included highlights in its eyes, that became the winner with a 20 star.

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Ian thanked us profusely for the opportunity of seeing such high class work, chairman John Bryant responded equally with a very big thank you, and we are sure the audience thoroughly agreed.

The next meeting was yesterday (Thursday) where the results of the summer challenge were judged by Paul Hutchings.

For any further information about the club please phone John Bryant on Bexhill 730758.

Hastings, Bexhill Organ and Keyboard Society

LAST month's concert was performed by the ever-popular and talented Andrew Nix, who had made the long journey from his home in Selby North Yorkshire to be with us.

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Andrew's varied musical programme together with his undoubted talents as a comedian were very well received by members and visitors alike.

For our next concert on October 29 we welcome organist Steve Clarke who is making his first visit to our society.

Steve was only 14 when he started playing the organ for three nights a week at his local Royal British Legion Club.

On leaving school he joined the music retail world and progressed to regional manager for Yamaha and later for Lowry Organs.

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In addition to playing he has worked as musical director on many variety shows working with Ted Rodgers, The Bachelors, Craig Douglas, Clinton Ford and many more.

Steve has also completed a two-year UK tour with the successful We'll Meet Again show, combined with several seasons at the Winter Gardens Pavilion, Blackpool.

Our society caters for all tastes in organ and keyboard music. Concerts take place on the last Thursday of each month and are held at The Pebsham CP School, School Place, Hastings Road, Bexhill, at 7.30pm.

New members and visitors are always welcome.

For further information please ring 01424 214152.

Rotary Club of Senlac

JO Oliver, public relations and fundraising manager of the Association of Carers, was the Rotary Club of Senlac's invited guest for the purpose of explaining her group's objectives.

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The aim was that the work be organised by 'volunteers supporting those who care'.

The Association was formed in 1987 by six ladies to support carers and their families in the area of Hastings and St Leonards.

In 1998, the area was extended to Battle and Bexhill and in 2008 to Rye and the rest of Rother.

The structure is of management trustees with responsibility for volunteers and supporters, service management (public relations and fundraising), with an administrative assistant and volunteer visitors.

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Carers can look forward to a few hours break; also they look forward for chance to meet friends and join clubs in evening.

The service offered by volunteer visitors is free.

Computer help is provided for carers and the cared-for which is also offered as a free service. Encouragement is given for carers and cared for to socialise.

Volunteer visitors are not required to have qualifications, but simply to have a desire to help others.

The maximum period of time offered weekly is three hours, visiting at a regular time and same day.

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Volunteers have to be CRB checked and supply two references.

Three in five people become carers at some point in their lives. There are 17,000 carers within Hastings and Rother.

A major part of funding is provided by East Sussex County Council.

As a service to carers wanting to take a well-earned break, volunteer visitors offer support and companionship by sitting with the clients who are cared for.

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All volunteers receive basic training in first aid and other useful subjects.

Volunteers' travelling expenses are reimbursed; also volunteer visitors do not carry out domestic or nursing tasks.

The volunteer service is contributory to saving large sums of public finance.

The aims of Association of Carers are: (a) to promote the welfare of carers and their dependants within their community; (b) encourage their independence and support them in their caring role; (c) to raise the community's awareness of carers' issues.

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Besides raising community awareness it is hoped the association will advance to build on its achievements and develop the work undertaken.

Questions followed, asking how the service related to other organisations providing care within the community.

Rotarian Henry Band, offering the vote of thanks for the speaker's informative illustrated talk, remarked upon the need for carers to be supported and acknowledged the aims and objectives of the association.

Sidley Friendship Club

SIDLEY Friendship Club has organised an afternoon coach trip to Paradise Park at Newhaven on Thursday, October 22.

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This is a lovely garden centre andhas a heritage trail with some very interesting exhibits, both inside and out.

We still have seats, and we are now offering to non-members as well as members.

We have been lucky to receive a grant for the cost of the coach, and the entrance fee and tea is also greatly subsidised.

The cost is 8 including tea for members and 10 including tea for non-members.

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If you'd like to join us on this trip please phone Irene on 01424 216242.

The AGM for Sidley Friendship Club will be held on Monday, October 19 at 2pm at Sidley Community Centre.

It is very important that all members attend this meeting, as once again we are being forced to change venues in November.

We will not be able to stay at the community centre, as it is being taken over by East Sussex County Council and the costs to hire the hall have risen dramatically and will be too expensive for us to hire.

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I'm sure everyone will be disappointed about this '“ after all, what is a community centre, if not for the community of Sidley.

The Friendship Club was set up for the over-50s, both men and women, of Sidley.

It gives them all a reason to go out and mix with other people for a cuppa and a chat, either as a couple or on their own.

We have seen the club begin to flourish over the year and it would be sad to lose it now because of rising costs.

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Jenny and the other committee members have put in a lot of hard work to get the club to where it is today.

As yet we do not have a venue for November but hope we will have by the AGM.

Please come along to the meeting and give us your support '“ without you there is no club. New members are always welcomed, so come for a cup of tea, a chat and a piece of birthday cake.

The new craft club we were hoping to start up, has had to be put on hold until we can find a venue to hold it in.

See you all on October 19 at Sidley Community Centre.

Bexhill-on-Sea & District Veterans Association

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The Bexhill-On-Sea & District Veterans Association continues to grow as the word spreads of the success of the bringing together of ex and Serving Members of our Armed Forces.

This month we celebrate six months in being. The support we have received is beyond our wildest dreams, so a big thank you to those that have given us the chance to be part of your community.

Our meeting on October 1 saw some 30-plus members attend. Many items were discussed and decided upon. We welcomed four new members taking our membership to over 60 within the local community. The meeting opened at 1.15pm and closed at 2.45pm. The chairman (Chris Gadsden) would like to thank Pam Emmerson for all the work she is doing, and has done within the Association and allowing us to have used her public house (The Sportsman) for our meetings in the past. We would also like to thank Glyn Taylor for accommodating us now for our meetings at the Conservative Club in Amherst Road.

Our first Social afternoon meeting was held at the Sportsman pub on October 4, and the chairman would like to thank those that turned up; it gave members a chance to get to know each other on a one-to-one basis. Why don't you come along and meet some of your veterans and enjoy the banter of such. You know the place! The Sportsman pub, in Sackville Road, Bexhill '“ families are welcome every Sunday afternoon at about 3pm.

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The purchase of our own standard is within reach. The chairman would like to thank everyone that has made the purchase of the standard possible; without their efforts and contributions this would have been impossible. All members of the Association would like to express their special thanks to Eileen Jenkins who is carrying on the good work that her late partner Alex Beveridge started. Once the standard has been acquired there will be a blessing by the local Armed Forces chaplin.

To attend this blessing please contact the chairman or the secretary on either of the numbers/e-mail addresses given below. Details will be sent to all applying.

Work is forging ahead for the parade next June in Egerton Park to celebrate Armed Forces Day; our thanks go to those that have said that they would like to have a stall on the day (June 26 2010). There is still room for you to take this opportunity to have a stall within the arena on the day, first come first served. This special day will be aimed at raising funds for Help 4 Heroes.

Last week, the Manager at Tesco (Ravenside) kindly invited us as an Association to attend their shop and collect for Help 4 Heroes.

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Sadly, on September 17 Reginald Hitchens passed away. Reginald was one of the founder-members of the Association. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this difficult time. Reginald was laid to rest on October 5.

For further information about the association, please call Chris Gadsden (Chairman) on 01424-734-204, or e-mail him at [email protected]. Alternatively, contact Stuart Marfleet (Secretary) on 01424-220-917, or e-mail him at [email protected]