Catsfield

Donations of jumble would be most welcome at the hall from 9am and Sandra would be grateful for any offers of help. Please call her on 01424 774708

Sport: Another bad result for our football team who lost at home versus Peasmarsh 2 - 5 despite Peasmarsh having two men sent off. We must do better tomorrow when we play Pebsham Sibex in the Hastings Junior Cup at Buxton Drive 2.30pm.

Development News: It has been a few years now since Sidley Sports Ground in Glovers Lane ceased to be a cricket field, but surely there is no need to abandon the idea of cricket facilities and open spaces in Sidley. I refer to planning application RR/2015/2304/P which is an outline application for 70 houses, to add to the huge development planned for nearby Preston Hall Farm. The loss of any sports facility is supposed to be against good planning practice and once gone, it is extremely difficult to start them up again. At the Parish Council meeting on Wednesday, the Council objected to the new North Bexhill Access Road RR/2015/2260/P which aims to block off south Watermill Lane and provide a roundabout linking the new developments. Where will all this development end? Keep an eye out for future applications to assess their likely impact on the existing settlements, particularly in regard to traffic. Catsfield residents are saying that traffic has increased enormously this summer, for reasons which are hard to evaluate.

Catsfield School: The children of Catsfield School will be singing at the De la Warr Pavilion on Tuesday 20th October at 5.30pm in an event that’s part of the Battle Festival. They will be amongst other children from schools in 1066 country taking part in a programme entitled ‘Shakespeare’s Song’.

Mobile Library: The East Sussex County Council Mobile Library will be visiting Catsfield on Friday 23rd October and will be standing in its usual place outside the Village Hall from 11.55am – 12.30pm.

Advance Notice: An evening to look forward to with great pleasure will be at 7.30pm on 11th December at the Parish Church of St Laurence when an evening of ‘Carols by Candlelight’ by the Church Choir and the Rother Community Choir will set the scene for Christmas. Tickets will cost £6 each to include a light supper and will go on sale in the Village Stores or will be available at the door.

The Last Flight: Last Sunday I was so lucky to be standing with dozens of other spectators of all ages on the grass triangle close to the Brightling Needle to watch the last fly past of the Avro Vulcan XH558. She was a few minutes late arriving and excitement mounted as she came into view in a clear blue sky, flying over from the direction of Ashford and heading towards Rushlake Green, where she was to turn further inland on her last tour of the south. She was low, slow and loud above our heads and the distinctive growl of her engines was powerful enough to set off at least one car alarm – and then she was gone. As she faded into the distance, we were left with a great feeling of awe and delight at having seen her but also sadness that such a magnificent aircraft will never fly again after this month.

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