Alfriston

EASTER: With the advent of spring comes Easter and whether to you this means the end of a rugby tournament, colourfully decorated eggs, bunnies and Easter egg hunts or celebrating Jesus’ resurrection the village welcomes all and offers much.

ST ANDREWS CHURCH: Sunday, Palm Sunday falls on the Sunday before Easter to mark Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. 10.50am Liturgy of the palms at the Market Square. Palms will be distributed and dedicated with a procession down to St Andrews Church on The Tye. This will be followed at 11am with a Liturgy of the passion, a traditional Palm Sunday service, including a dramatic reading of Jesus’ Passion Sunday. On Good Friday, March 25, there will be a reflective meditation using silence and music from noon. Easter Sunday at 11am there will be a traditional Easter Sunday Service. St Andrew’s congregation are a friendly bunch and welcome all.

OLD CLERGY HOUSE: March 26 to April 3. You are invited to search for bunnies around this bijou cottage garden with a fun family trail sponsored by Cadburys. Normal admission applies and the trail costs £1.50. Visit their website for more information regarding opening times. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/alfriston-clergy-house

SMUGGLERS INN: Are holding an Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday.

EASTER EGG MAKING: And homemade chocolates. A quick reminder that if you prefer to make your own, Smartcookies will be helping kids big and little make their own hollow chocolate eggs filled with homemade chocolates. Everything will be provided. Children’s sessions will be Saturdays March 19 and 26, 10am to noon and 2pm to 4pm. Adult’s sessions, complete with the enticement of bubbles and nibbles, will take place Wednesday March 23 and Saturday March 26, 7pm to 9.30pm. Children £15 and adults £20. Booking is essential. Contact [email protected].

FRANCO ENGLISH RELATIONSHIPS: As the Six Nations draws to a close, England may have won the championship, but it’s not won unless it’s the Grand Slam. France v England will kick off at 8pm. Sitting at home and shouting at the TV is not the same as sharing banter with neighbours and a nice glass of something local. A plan could be (well it is my plan, yet to be shared with my husband but I don’t anticipate resistance) to pop along for a late lunch at The George Inn and enjoy the earlier matches as well. The result cannot be guaranteed but a warm atmosphere and great grub can be.

TWINNING AGM: Alfriston and Veules Les Roses villages and villagers have developed close bonds and deep friendships in the three years since we twinned and is recognised as one of the most successful twinning associations. The AGM held on Sunday March 13 traced that journey. Maybe that success is due to the historical links that have been unearthed between East Sussex and Normandy or the numerous celebratory and commemorative events. It could also have something to do with countless wine tastings, a celebration of Harvey’s Old Ale at Harveys Brewery or even the Morris dancers who so impressed our French friends that they have been invited to Normandy for another performance. Heartfelt thanks was given to the committee as they were re-elected for the work done to date and new members were welcomed on board. Looking ahead to 2016 the French Market will return to The Tye on July 24 and our French twinners will be visiting May 14 and 15 with a packed programme of food, wine, gardens, picnics and walks developing. More immediately tomorrow, Saturday, Fleur De Paris, Alfriston War Memorial Hall, doors open 6.30pm for 7pm. An evening of French Chansons with Lo Polidoro. French wine and bar snacks provided by the twinning group. Tickets £12 tickets are going fast so please reserve via email [email protected]. If you would like to get involved in the twinning group and enjoy new friendships on both sides of the Channel and be invited to all our events, social, cultural, gastronomic and sporty, just get in touch. E-mail [email protected]

SUSSEX OX: Wednesday March 30 from 7.30pm. The Sussex Ox hosts live music on the last Wednesday of every month with Manush Sans Frontières. For a flavour of the Parisian jazz manouche tradition, come and enjoy jazz swing, musette waltzes and traditional gypsy songs performed by this incomparable accordion-guitar duet. Manush Sans Frontières was founded by Sebastien Boyer (guitarist, accordionist and disciple of French gypsy jazz legends Francis-Alfred Moerman and Mandino Reinhardt) and Steve Goldman (guitarist with the Hot Club of Jevington). Contact them for more information 01323 870840.

MUSIC: Music continues to play on in the village this weekend. Today, Friday, St Patrick’s Day celebrations will continue at The Star Inn with Irish band Tripping Upstairs. Tomorrow, Saturday, the South Downs Youth Orchestra will play a final concert at St Andrews, playing a selection of music from a sponsored walk and play taking place throughout the day in locations including Alciston, Berwick, Folkington, Wilmington & Litlington. Organised by East Sussex Music. Entry to all concerts including this final one is free, there will be a collection on the door and all money raised will be donated to church funds. On Sunday, Pro Musica will perform Brahms’German Requiem at St Andrews. The Florentine ensemble will accompany the performance. Tickets are priced at £12 (children under 14 free) and can be bought on the door or to reserve please email [email protected]

LOCAL HISTORY: Enjoy our green and pleasant land this weekend and if you want to find out more about your local area the Alfriston and Cuckmere Valley Historical Society will be holding a local history briefing on March 24 at 7.30pm in the War Memorial Hall, followed by an entertaining talk titled The Seven Wonders of Eastbourne. Members are free, non-members £5.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.sussexexpress.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Sussex-Express/

3) Follow us on Twitter @sussex_express

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Sussex Express - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.