Heathfield Town News

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The Village Players perform several productions every year, including dramas, comedies, musicals and pantomimes. They will return to The Dunn Village Hall this November with Norman Robbins’ play, The Late Mrs Early by Norman Robbins.

The Village Players, performances take place from Wednesday, November 20 - Saturday, November 23 at The Dunn Village Hall, Rushlake Green TN21 9QD. 6.30pm start.

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Rehearsals are in full swing for The Village Players’ Cafe Theatre, featuring Norman Robbins’ play The Late Mrs Early.

The play is a light comedy, set in a terraced council house during the 1970s, in the Northern town of Castleford. Alice Early is a domineering woman who rules her family with a rod of iron and is horrified when her young son Terry announces his engagement to Susan Rickworth, a local girl. Alice , it seems, has a historical connection with the Rickworth family and is determined to stop the wedding - even if it kills her! Sam Early, however, is very happy for his son to marry Susan but when the Rickworths visit the house Alice certainly makes her presence felt…

Present The Late Iris EarlyPresent The Late Iris Early
Present The Late Iris Early

Do come and enjoy a two-course meal followed by this very enjoyable comedy. Licensed Bar. Book online via our website www.villageplayersrushlakegreen.co.uk

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Think.Heathfield. Do you have a Heathfield loyalty card? If not…why not? Every time you shop at a participating store, you’ll collect a stamp.

There are a large number of participating shops, so keep spending to fill those cards up. Once completed simply leave the card with the shop owner for collection and entry into the draw!

Completed cards will be entered into the Monthly draw to win £50 worth of vouchers to spend locally. Each shop that participates in the Think.Heathfield loyalty card scheme, should be displaying a Think.Heathfield loyalty sticker in their window.

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To find out more go into any shop/business who has the sticker in the window, for example: Gemini Greetings or All wrapped up, Heathfield Ironmongers. If you want to be in the draw, all you need to do is shop local and get your card stamped.

The Community Farmers' Market is this weekend on Saturday, November 2 from 9am until 11.30am at the Swan Meadow Playing Fields, Ham Lane, Burwash, TN19 7ER. Please bring cash if possible. Enquiries to [email protected] Supported by Burwash Playing Fields Association and Wealden Food Partnership. Held on the first Saturday of the month.

Broad Oak Village Hall AGM will take place on Monday, November 4 at 6.30pm in the small meeting room at Broad Oak Village Hall, Burwash Road, TN21 8SS. Please join us at our AGM if you would like to get involved with this small friendly committee and help to improve the hall for its many hirers and users.

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The Village Hall Management Committee has been busy this year installing solar panels and a new heating system. We are actively fundraising and applying for grants to improve the hall insulation before moving on to other improvements to the restrooms, kitchen and décor. For Further information please email: [email protected]

Maynards Green C P School Open Days for pupils starting school in Reception in 2025 are on Tuesday, November 5 at 9am and Tuesday, November 12 at 9am. You are warmly invited to join on of the tours.

To make an appointment please telephone 01435 812622 or email: [email protected] Maynards Green C P School vision is for children to have confidence, skills and attitude to become responsible citizens who can achieve their potential.

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All Saints’ and St Richards’s Open Days. We are delighted to welcome the families of children starting school in September 2025 to our open days on Tuesday, November 5 at 2pm and Wednesday, November 6 at 6pm.

Book your place on the website: www.assr.e-sussex.sch.uk If you are unable to make these days or times, please call us on 01435 863466 and we will be happy to arrange an alternative appointment.

Sussex Support Service. Did you know you can join us just for lunch, at Age We Care every Tuesday and Thursday 12.30pm – 13.30pm. Tuesday, November 5, Cod in Tomato and Chorizo sauce, New Potatoes and sugar Snap Peas, Steam Pudding; Thursday, November7 Jacket Potatoes with a selection of Fillings with salad and Coleslaw and Fresh Fruit Salad. Tuesday 12th Beef Stroganoff with Rice, Apple Pie and Ice Cream. Thursday, November 14, Sausage and Mash with Gravy and Broccoli, Maple and Pecan Tart.

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For information on our other sessions including singing, physical activities and art? Just call us on 01825 760176 or email us at: [email protected] Please book by Thursday the week before. Cost £5.50 per person for a two-course lunch, including refreshments. Menu is subject to changes. Dietary needs and preferences catered for.

Please make sure we are aware of any allergies. Some of our sessions are free and others just £5.50 (Carers attend activity sessions for free) Are you a PA and looking for things to do with those you support? You can also join us. Booking is required.

Friends of Parkside School, Heathfield, will be holding their own Fireworks Night 2024, which will take place on Friday, November 8. Gates will open at 5pm, with the first display approximately 6.30pm.

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Tickets are on sale now at: https://parkside.onlineticketseller.com. As always there will be great food, refreshments, music and glow stands as well as not one but Two fireworks shows. (A quieter display first for those with more sensitive ears followed by the more traditional big bangs for the thrill seekers!)

THE REPAIR CAFÉ Heathfield and Horam, next session is on November 9. We meet on the second Saturday of every month from 9.30am until 12 noon at Horam Village Hall, A267, Horam TN21 0JE. We hope to see you! Help us preserve our environment and dent our throw away culture. Everyone is welcome. Yummy home-baked cakes and refreshments while you wait!

On most occasions we will be able to repair computers, electrical items, cycles, minor mechanical problems, furniture, and small sewing repairs. See our facebook page: Repair café 21, or for more information please email: [email protected]

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The Art of Rag Rug Exhibition. Saturday, November 9 from 11am until 3pm at Punnetts Town Village Hall. TN21 9DH. Demonstrations, Homemade Tea/Coffee and Cake, £3 entrance fee (Cash Only)

Heathfield and Waldron Community First Responders are proud to be bringing back their 7th Annual Quiz Night on Saturday, November 9 at Kings Church, Station Road, Heathfield. Prizes for the top three teams, and raffle. Doors open at 7pm and Quiz starts at 7.30pm. Cost £5 per person with a maximum of six people per team. Bring your own food and drinks.

“Help us to raise some vital funds to continue the life-saving work we do” Come along and help us raise vital funds for the charity. To book, see the Heathfield and Waldron Responders Facebook page and scan the QR code to book.

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HEATHFIELD MORNING WI. Next meeting will be on Tuesday, November 12 from 10am until 12pm with a choir, at The Union Church, Station Road, Heathfield, TN21 8LB. We meet on the second Tuesday in the month.

Our October month will be a visit from Beachy Head Chaplaincy. We welcome new members to join us. Just come along and enjoy our activities, outings and great speakers. To find out more please email: [email protected]

Parkside Primary School. Are you interested in your child joining Parkside Primary School? We are always happy to meet new families interested in Parkside. If your child is due to start school in September 2025, visit us for our open days on Tuesday, November 12 at 6.30pm and Thursday, November 14 at 9.15am No need to book!

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For further information and to view our prospectus please see: www.parksideprimary.org

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP. Come and meet with others who understand how you are feeling, with support of local bereavement counsellor Sue Jenkins. We meet every second Wednesday in the month, next session: Wednesday, November 13 from 2pm until 4pm at the Church Lounge, Union Church, Station Road, Heathfield.

For more information, please contact [email protected] or call 0795 8938746 or just turn up. This group is kindly sponsored by White Feather Funerals

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The Art Society Wealden Heathfield. Our next lecture is on Tuesday, November 12 entitled The Profitable Art of Flattery: Reynolds, Gainsborough and Portraiture in the 18th Century by speaker Sarah Ciacci.

By the latter half of the 1700s British artists who wanted to make money chose portraiture as the genre to focus on. The two most successful portrait painters of the day were Sir Joshua Reynolds and Thomas Gainsborough. Both worked in very different styles which reflected different modes of flattery. Another key ‘portrait’ painter is George Stubbs, who did not paint portraits of people but animals – he was the horse painter par excellence.

We seek to bring people together through a shared curiosity and love for the arts. Our monthly meetings take place at the Heathfield Community Hall, on the second Tuesday of each month at 2.15pm, and provide a welcoming and popular place for members to socialise and hear expert speakers.

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New members are very welcome to contact The Membership Secretary - to find out arrangements to join at: [email protected] More information about the society can be viewed at: http://theartssocietywealden.org.uk

Punnetts Town Community Primary School and Nursery School. If your child is due to start School in September 2025, please join us for our Open events on either November 13 at 9.30am or November 20 at 5pm. If you are unable to make either of these dates, please contact the school office on 01435830361 or email [email protected] and we can arrange an alternative time.

We look forward to welcoming you soon. If you are looking for a space for your child, we have do have spaces. Please contact the school office on 01435830361. We look forward to hearing from you. “We believe that childhood is a precious time, and this underpins our aim to nurture our children ensuring their happiness and feeling of safety at school.”

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Cross in Hand CE Primary School Open Days for prospective parents with pupils starting school in Reception in 2025 are on Tuesday, November 19 at 6.30pm and Wednesday, November 20 at 9.30am.

Call 01435 862941 or email: [email protected] Or visit the website at: www.crossinhandschool.com “Cross in Hand is a very happy and welcoming school with a team of staff that put their heart and soul into nurturing and inspiring the children.”

Heathfield Christmas Lighting Up Event is on Friday, November 22 at 3.45pm. Pop along to our annual Christmas Lighting Up Event where a lucky winner will be turning on the town’s Christmas lights.

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If your child would like to enter the competition to turn on the lights please go to our website www.hwpc.org.uk where you will find the colouring pages for the competition or pop by the council offices in the High Street and pick one up. The competition ends on November 18, so be sure to drop off your entries to the council offices in the High Street in time.

There will be lots to do at the event. We will be having entertainment from Heathfield Community College, Punnetts Town Primary School, Bibi and a dancing elf. There will also be stalls and of course Father Christmas for children to visit (this will be on a first come first serve basis). There will also be late night shopping, a pop-up Christmas market in State Hall and a Christmas Tree Festival at Union Church.

A first for St Richard's church, Upper Station Road Heathfield, November 23 and 24 a Nativity Set Festival Weekend. The church will be decorated with Nativity sets/crib scenes as we look forward to Christmas. All of the Nativity sets loaned to the church for that weekend have stories to tell, some old, some new, some precious and even a one made of lego, all treasured by their owners who want to help us get into the spirit of Christmas, telling the story of the birth of Jesus.

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There will be a Nativity scene outside with the opportunity for families to 'put their faces into the picture', you could take a photo and make it your Christmas card on line for friends and family. The church will be open from 10am -4pm on Saturday 23rd and after the 10am morning service on Sunday 24th the church will be open again from 11am-4pm, do come and bring your friends, it's going to be a great Festival Weekend and a first for Heathfield.

All the cribs will be blessed on Friday 22nd once they are all in place, the blessing will take place during an ancient service of Compline at 9pm (think of monastic worship and candle lit churches), all are welcome to this service.

During the weekend St Richard's church hall will be open offering refreshments with a Christmassy theme as well as stalls, a raffle, guess the weight of the Christmas cake etc, etc, and there will be craft activities with a Christmas theme for all those young at heart, whatever age you may be!

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Do come and visit St Richard's church for our first Nativity Set/Crib Festival weekend, then go and see the Christmas tree festival at Union Church, and make it a weekend to remember the Spirit of Christmas. You never know it may become an annual event at St Richard's church, Upper Station Road Heathfield, just look out for the bunting and display boards.

Friends of All Saints and St Richards Primary School will soon to be holding a preloved winter coat and Christmas jumper sale for the children of the school to raise money with all proceeds going back into the school.

Donations of any winter coats, Christmas jumpers/outfits/christmas dresses that are in good condition are wanted. Please send a message to: [email protected] if you have anything in ages 4-12years that they would like to donate, these will be gratefully received.

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Hailsham foodbank (Heathfield) are currently having to buy in 33 % of the items that go into food parcels, or source them from other foodbanks. Last year this figure was 20%. “We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. That’s why we provide three days of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us in crisis.

We are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. Your donations make a huge difference so please give what you can.

Most needed items for October are: Long life juice, Tinned meat, Long life milk, Toiletries, Tinned vegetables. (Coffe and Tea Bags are not currently required) For more information See: https://hailsham.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/

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RURAL SUSSEX GIRL. If you're a woman living in Sussex and looking to make new friends, we are thrilled to introduce you to "Rural Sussex Girl." RSG is a community for women with over 4,600 members from all over Sussex, including those living in villages, towns, and the Sussex countryside. We can’t wait to see you there!

Lindfield Bonfire Night Celebrations - November 5. You can join our Facebook community at : https://www.facebook.com/groups/ruralsussexgirl

Heathfield Chair Yoga Join us on Wednesday mornings for Chair Yoga Class at the Heathfield Community Centre. Perfect for those who would like to practice yoga but find it difficult getting up and down from the floor. Improve your health and well-being in a safe and relaxed atmosphere. Two classes to choose from (9:45am until 10:30am) and (11am until 11:45am) No need to book - pay as you go £8 - just come along, enjoy and feel better You will receive a warm welcome. Tommy & Helen

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Tottingworth Farm have teamed up with The Flower House Burwash to offer an afternoon at Tottingworth Farm, Christmas Wreath Making on Thursday, November 28 between 4pm-6pm. Come and try your skills at making your own Christmas Wreath.

The price is £45 per person including a hot drink and a mince pie. If you would like to book a space, then please contact Hayley by calling 01435 884002 or emailing her directly at: [email protected] Spaces are limited so book soon to enjoy this festive afternoon.

Wanted Heathfield Runners. Run for LDN Winter 26.01.2025. Would you like to support Run for London, with two races, starting with the first a Winter race! Get the date in your diary 26.01.2025, raise money for charity and have an enjoyable run through London while doing it?

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We didn’t have a South team last year so would be good to have one this year. Half the money raised goes to our charity. We come up and greet runners at the finish (Wellingtons gate) with a heavy but beautiful medal and with drinks and sustenance. Please book up and help us while you enjoy yourselves.

Tickets are now live, get ready for our our biggest race ever, as we raise even more funds for Harambee for Kenya and Tribe freedom foundation. “Harambee is Swahili for ‘all pull together’. Harambee would like you to join them, in “pulling together, to help the street children of Kenya. Thousands of children live on the streets for many reasons including being orphaned by aids or other illnesses or they have to fend for themselves because there is only one parent who is unable to care for them; or there is not enough food at home to go round. Street children have no identity and are regularly beaten.

“The purpose of Harambee for Kenya is to put poor people on their feet again and to rekindle burnt out lives with fresh hope, restoring dignity and respect to their lives. It is the vision of Harambee for Kenya to take children from the streets to a place of safety where they can sleep, receive medical help, be fed and educated.”

For more information see: https://harambeeforkenya.org

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Tribe Freedom Foundation was inspired by Run for Love; an epic 1,000 mile journey, completed by co-founders Tom, Rob & Guy in 2013. More than 250 runners joined them along the road from Odessa to Dubrovnik to fight human trafficking and raise funds to set up the first UK home for trafficked children. Since Run for Love, we have continued to work towards our mission, inspiring thousands of everyday athletes and adventurers to push their own limits to help increase awareness of modern slavery and end human trafficking. We empower communities to create an impact. For more information see: https://tribefreedomfoundation.com/how-we-work/

Urgently needed. The Goward Hall urgently require a new treasurer. This would consist of 30 minutes of work per week plus three meetings a year. For more information please contact Eve: [email protected] or call 01435 863964

Rotary Club of Heathfield & Waldron ladies are looking for stall holders for a Christmas Table Top Sale for St Wilfrid’s Hospice on December 8 at the Buxted Park Sports Pavilion TN22 4AY from 10.30 to 2.30pm. New, pre-loved sellers and buyers needed. All funds to be donated to St Wilfred’s Hospice. For reservations, all enquiries contact Linda 07976251238 or [email protected] Table or space £15 Public Entry on the day £1.

Email [email protected] with your inclusion for the Heathfield and Surrounding Areas Column.