Catsfield village voice

On Saturday the 14th, the Spring Flower show starts at 2 pm in the Village Hall. Entry is 50p for adults and there is free parking at the Hall. The tulips on display should be fine, but I wonder how many daffodils are left after their profuse flowering during the March heat wave. There will be lots to see at the show, as well as stalls of plants and cakes and Auntie Gwen`s tea and cake shop.

Last week the Catsfield WI celebrated their 94th birthday in style, with a wonderful tea, served to members and friends seated at tables decorated with spring bouquets and the elegant WI china. Guests from WI`s in Battle, Bexhill and Little Common joined us to hear reports of a very busy March, when our Jumble Sale raised over £340, we walked across the fields to Henley Down for coffee with a new member, attended the production of Running for Glory in the Village hall and went to Eastbourne for the ESFWI Annual Meeting.

Our entertainment for the Birthday party was provided by Marco the magician, who has us all intrigued by his rope tricks - one of our visitors got the rope to take home and examine - card tricks and sleight of hand with a visitor`s diamond ring, which involved the audience and came to a terrific climax when he produced his little white rabbit from the opera hat. We certainly enjoyed the show and I think Marco did too! The urn ran dry providing endless cups of tea as everyone chatted and enjoyed the plates of cakes and savouries. Happy winners went home with raffle prizes at the end of a lovely afternoon.

There was a lovely photograph of our Rector, Father Michael, in the Observer, last week, knocking on the West Door of Crowhurst Church, during the Palm Sunday celebrations. This was the start of a week of observation of Holy Week, at Crowhurst and Catsfield, culminating in the celebration of Easter on Easter Sunday. The church was packed and the children acted out a little play of the Resurrection before the Rector produced a magic bean, which grew into a huge plant, to illustrate new life rising from the tomb. The junior choir sang and the children were then rewarded with the traditional, if wet, Easter egg hunt.

Next Sunday is Low Sunday and the Parish Communion will be at the usual time, 9.15 am

Please try to walk the footpath from Powdermill Lane through to the Primary School, where the field has recently been ploughed, cultivated and sown with spring wheat. Thanks to the efforts of our Parish Clerk, Carol, and the East Sussex County Council, the path has been re-instated by the farmer and is marked across the field. As the corn grows, it will be more difficult to pick out, so it is important that this popular path is well walked and kept open for everyone to enjoy.

Patricia Speedy, Longstone, Powdermill Lane