Catsfield

On Saturday 14th June the next fund raiser for the church will be a Car Boot Sale held on the Catsfield Playing Field, so now is the time to sort out your unwanted items and turn them into cash!

The people at St. Laurence church in Catsfield and their sister church in Crowhurst have decided to support the Bexhill Food Bank and have placed food collection bins in their churches so that regular donations can be made. Each bin, clearly labelled, is placed near the door in the church, which is open all daylight hours. A useful leaflet, which gives details of the scheme, is available in the church too.

The Food Bank was started by Bexhill churches together and is now supported also by Rother District Council. Its aim is to provide food for people in crisis, which consists of a box containing food for three days given in response to a voucher issued by frontline care professionals such as social workers and nurses. In addition to food, everyday essentials such as toilet rolls, shampoo and disposable nappies can also be given. For more details, contact Jacqueline Kemp, telephone 01424 772217 or [email protected]

At the WI meeting on Thursday 5th June at 2.30pm in the Village Hall the fun ‘Flower and Produce Show’ will take place when members compete against each other in light-hearted competition. Would all WI members please remember to bring their entries, which we hope will be a taster for the village show on 2nd August. New members and visitors are always welcome.

Our first cricket match of the season on the Bexhill Downs against Parkhurst turned out to be a very one-sided affair. Catsfield batted first with Derek Fuller retiring injured with 104 and the next highest scorer David Taylor at 23, making a total at tea of 185 for 6. Crossing the road during bank holiday traffic to the Athletic Club for tea was extremely hazardous, but the tea was worthwhile. Parkhurst were 68 all out with Tim Pitman doing the most damage to the opposition, with figures of 5 for 6, followed by Tom Hammick 3 for 9 and the remaining two wickets taken by James Wilson and Tom Wisden. This Sunday we play Sedlescombe away, but on Saturday there should be a league match played by one of the Bexhill teams hiring our pitch, which all means extra income for the Parish Council to help offset the mowing costs.

Last Saturday’s Murder Mystery performance by the CADS in the Village Hall made a really good night out, as I’m sure the sixty or so people in an audience of assorted ages can testify. The cast were dressed in the style of the eighties and references to songs of the era seemed to appear in almost every sentence. The story centred round four former pupils of St Stephen’s school, two of whom, the Thompson twins had become pop stars called ‘Wha Hey (with two exclamation marks!!)’ It soon became obvious that Derek Thompson was about to become the victim of the plot and with a tiger being borrowed from a local zoo for a photo-shoot, he appeared to be heading for a gruesome end. Motives abounded from the colourful suspects and clues were scattered throughout the amusing script.

Summing up of the motives and evidence was done by Inspector Leather and his side-kick, YTS trainee Barton and they produced a last message written by Derek in his own blood reading ‘CUT’, then the audience was left for the interval to work out ‘who dunnit’. The winners were the team called ‘The Cuticles’ and prizes were duly awarded. The guest appearance of Father Michael as zookeeper Alan Wiggly (‘Call me Al’) added spice to an already outstanding performance by our wonderfully talented village ‘Am/Dram’ society.

The evening raised £450 for the local scouts, who are extremely grateful to the members of CADS for such great evening. Thanks also go to Jim and Sarah Campbell, who not only donated the prizes but also ordered and collected all the drinks for the bar.

On Sunday afternoon, the wedding took place at the church between Kevin Moss and Rosalind Keeley (member of the congregation and former PCC member). The bride wore a long dress with a train and a simple veil. Her nieces were bridesmaids and her sister was matron of honour. Organist and choirmaster Bob Andrew had travelled back from holiday in France to play and conduct the choir singing Bach’s ‘Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring’.

Jill Jarrett

Broadview, Bexhill