Hailsham Town News

This particular format, held once each season, enables individual Members to speak about their particular passions and or styles of photography. Jonathan Close presented 6x17 transparencies and panoramas which began with a brief technical explanation of panoramic photography where such large format positive film images, or slides, are best known for offering exceptional detail. This approach makes them ideal for high quality landscape photography. Prior to digital this was a laborious technique necessitating use of such seemingly now archaic methods of insertion of "dark slides" if lens changes were needed, finding nodal points of your chosen lens, and with just 4 images produced per roll of film. This in addition to remembering to wind on in between shots and mandatory use of tripods to take multiple images. Indeed, in response to a comment asking whether it was often dark before he was ready to take a photo, Jonathan confirmed that the method certainly was not for “action" photography. The results achieved by this approach however were stunning with Jonathan showing many of his images depicting gorgeous panoramas and sunsets of his favourite Lake District landscapes: Wastwater, Borrowdale, Castlerigg as well as more southerly examples from the Seven Sisters and the South Downs. He concluded that the advent of digital and associated software development had made things both a lot easier for this type of photography as well as considerably less expensive.

Andrew Burns Presented: Pantanal and Iguassu Falls, Brazil. His lecturette centred upon a visit to Brazil's Pantanal, the world's largest wetland at some 70,000 square miles and its incredible wealth of wildlife. The Pantanal is seasonally flooded by waters draining off the central plateau of South America and when for much of the year the land is largely inaccessible. Possibly the best place in the world to see jaguar, the Pantanal is however one of the most biodiverse habitats in the world boasting in particular, a wealth of water birds together with a supporting cast of other wildlife. Whilst historically, this wildlife has suffered from persecution changing legislation together with changing attitudes in now seeing the benefits of ecotourism which has meant an explosion in the numbers of Yacare Caymen as well as growing populations of two of the Pantanal's most iconic species, the gorgeous Hyacinth Macaw and the Jaguar.

Andrew's passion for his subject was apparent throughout. With so many beautiful images displayed of the birds it is difficult to do justice to any list with Roseate Spoonbills everywhere, Striated herons, Snowy Egrets, Rufescent Tiger herons, Sun Bittern, Kingfishers and humming birds together with a variety of raptors including Black Collared Hawk, Snail Kites and of course the unofficial emblem of the Pantanal the impressive Jabiru Stork. Mammals too were well represented in Andrew's presentation including the emblematic jaguar together with other rarer species such as giant otter and maned wolf.

All in all, a wonderful evening of beautiful images from both Jonathan and Andrew. A great tonic on a wet February evening and an encouragement to get out and about with the camera when the weather improves.

HAILSHAM PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY SHOW is an Audio-Visual colour extravaganza. This is a very uplifting event on Friday 6 March at 7.30pm and Saturday 7 March at 2.30pm and 7.30pm in Hailsham Community Civic Hall. Tickets are £8 from Stevens and Carter Estate Agents, 47 High St. Hailsham and also from Club Members or via the Contact Us tab on the Society's website at www.hailshamphotographicsociety.co.uk. Two hours of stunning images and audio videos from the Society's Members will be shown on the big screen, covering a wide range of topics from landscape, travel, portraits, abstract, street photography and natural history. Delight in the many beautiful images and short video sequences, in a friendly atmosphere where there will be something for everyone to enjoy. There is plenty of free parking, refreshments and a raffle. The Show is raising money for the Children with Cancer Fund and representatives from the charity will be available during the Show to explain a little more about their valuable work.

THE DISNEY CAR WASH was almost a washout, but members of the Sjaan Dance Academy kept on smiling, washing and polishing regardless in torrential rain which carried on throughout the day. Thanks are offered to everyone who still came down besides friends and family. Chantelle in the Café raised £112.50 selling a wide range of cakes. Goodie snack bags were also on offer. The grand total at the end of the day was £506.50 towards their trip to Disney to dance on one of its main stages. “I’m so happy to see these little children’s face smile and enjoyed their time, even though the weather was bad thank you for customers that did come in to support this event,” she said.

THE ANNUAL TOWN RESIDENTS’ meeting is on Wednesday 6 May in the Hailsham Civic Community Hall at 7.30pm. This is an opportunity for you to raise any matters of concern relating to the Parish and it will be chaired by the Mayor Cllr Chris Bryant. and will be chaired by the Town Mayor and Chairman of the Council, Cllr Chris Bryant. Prior to the start of the meeting there is an exhibition of local organisations possibly from the District and County, but this will be confirmed nearer the time. If you want to raise any concerns or indeed applaud any of the Town Council’s achievements, you can submit questions in advance by 1 May to the Town Clerk, addressed to John Harrison and this way the Councillors can be prepared with answers. You can ask questions on the night but may have to await a response should further information be required. The meeting also allows the Town Council to give updates on a range of projects and gives residents the opportunity to share their views and help shape priorities for the year ahead.

£600 IN SPONSORSHIP FUNDING has been made available by Hailsham Town Council towards making the High Street look a bit smarter. A recent meeting between Councillors, the Chamber of Commerce and Hailsham Forward looked for ways of exploring useful ideas, future plans and solutions to support our local businesses, rather than the national high street economic challenges. Discussion was around enhancing the town centre’s visual appeal and to encourage people to come into the town centre and support local business. High quality vinyl wraps helping to create a positive impression for residents and visitors alike would be installed on frontages until the units are occupied.

Further, The Hailsham Business Awards will celebrate the achievements, innovation and resilience of local businesses. The Town Council has agreed to sponsor this initiative by committing £600 towards it. This money will come from any underspend from the Community Grants and will go towards the purchase of the vinyl shopfront coverings and other high street enhancements. It is hoped that this will all help to support the town centre and make it a more attractive and an economically successful place to come for both residents and visitors.

ASHBURNHAM PLACE is the subject of a talk at the next meeting of Hailsham Historical and Natural History Society on Wednesday 4 March in the Charles Hunt Centre when Jay Ashworth will be delivering the talk which covers the year 1066 to the present day.

Last month’s meeting was led by Adrian Backshall, talking about Harold Frankland 1915 to 2016. Harold William Frankland was born 11 January 1915 and by the age of 9 he was bought his own tool chest. He moved into 38 Broad Road, Willingdon in 1935 close to Birds Engineering where he had worked as an apprentice, then becoming proficient in making tools to a high standard.

His house in Broad Road still had the original stained-glass windows when he died. During the time he occupied the house, he changed nothing. His workshop or rather, garden shed, was like a museum filled with tools made by Harold. Among them, a hand press, lawnmower, blade sharpener, a bench grinder and motor, some with the Bakelite fittings. He even built a treadle driven wood lathe.

Birds Engineering was situated in Coppice Avenue. The company occupied the former large motor transport workshop of the First World War Royal Naval Airship Station (RNAS) at Polegate. Following the airship station and its disbandment in 1920, the building was purchased by George Morrish (whose land was originally requisitioned in 1914) for use as a chicken house.

Major Percy Bird of the Eastbourne Aviation Company later purchased the building, turning it into a specialist engineering firm.

Harold William Frankland, known as ‘Old Bill’, died just 9 days short of his 101st birthday on 2nd January 2016.

The Hailsham Historical and Natural History Society meet on the first Wednesday of every month at the Charles Hunt Centre, Vicarage Field, Hailsham, BN27 1BG at 7 for 7.30pm. Access is from Vicarage Field East Car Park (next to Waitrose). If you would like to come along to a meeting, visitors are very welcome to pay £3 on the door. Members attend talks free and membership is £15 annually, renewable each January. Enquiries: T: 01323 843102, M: 07850 893997, E: [email protected]