Chailey

CRICKET: Chailey play in a league game at the sports ground, North Chailey tomorrow, Saturday, against Lindfield at 1.30pm. On Sunday there is a friendly game at the sports ground, North Chailey against Wadhurst at 2.30pm. Interested in playing league or friendly cricket? You will be made most welcome at Chailey Cricket Club. To find out more about cricket in Chailey do call Peter on 07709946880 and visit http://chailey.play-cricket.com/.

CHAILEY FREE CHURCH: Has services every Sunday. A Morning Service takes place at 10.30am and an Evening Service at 6.30pm. All welcome to the services, visit www.chaileyfreechurch.com for more details.

VOLUNTEERING: Anyone, skilled or unskilled, who can offer a day a month or more to the Bluebell Railway is invited to find out more about volunteering in the Railway’s various departments. To book your place on the next orientation tour on Sunday and get more information about the opportunities at the Railway call 01825 720800 or email [email protected].

EVENING SONGS OF PRAISE: On Sunday at Kingscote Station there will be the Bluebell Railway annual Songs of Praise. Departure from Sheffield Park is 5.15pm, calling at Horsted Keynes at 5.30pm for Kingscote. If you are travelling from East Grinstead there will be a departure at 6.15pm. The service will be led by Father John from St Giles Horsted Keynes, Vice Chaplain and Chaplain to the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society. The evening train service is free of charge with donations split between St Giles and the Bluebell Railway. Return train service from Kingscote at 7.30pm to East Grinstead, Horsted Keynes and Sheffield Park.

THE BIG DRAW: Join the Commons Society, on Thursday from 10am to 3pm, for a day of sketching and painting, drawing inspiration from the commons’ landscape, flora and fauna. No experience is necessary; just take artists materials, if you have them or the Society will provide some basic materials for you, and a picnic lunch. The society will provide lots of encouragement and an optional introduction demonstration. Meet at the sports club pavilion, at Memorial Common, but in case of bad weather contact Linda Ball on 07790 679295.

BIG CAMP: Enjoy a night under canvas at a wild camping weekend at Sheffield Park and Garden on Friday and Saturday, July 15 and 16. Set up by 7pm and enjoy cooking on their barbecue and later in the evening stargazing. The cost for adults is £25 and children £15 per night which includes a barbecue supper and breakfast. Booking is essential on 0844 249 1895 and a booking fee applies.

SUMMER SHOW: Organised by the horticultural society takes place on Saturday July 16. There are classes for produce, flowers, plants, photography, handicraft and cookery. For details of all the classes a Show Schedule can be obtained from Janet Keet-Black on 01273 400699.

THE FRESHFIELDS TEST: A Bluebell Railway XI has a social cricket match against Scaynes Hill Cricket Club at Freshfield Cricket ground, on Saturday July 16. It is hoped to raise funds for both causes, and any contributions will be much appreciated at https://www.justgiving.com /fundraising/John-Walls2 and will be shared 50/50 between the Railway and the Cricket Club. Freshfields Cricket ground is a truly beautiful setting, with views of steam trains, and is along Freshfield Lane, just north of The Sloop Inn. Bluebell Railway supporters are encouraged to attend, have a picnic, support the team and round off the day with a barbecue at the Scaynes Hill clubhouse.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Chailey Heritage Foundation would welcome volunteers to help with their fundraising stand at the Royal Pavilion Gardens, Brighton on Saturday July 23 from 9.30am to 5pm. If you are able to offer some time that day please contact [email protected] or call 01825 724444.

WALK: Summer Butterfly Walk takes place on Saturday July 23 from 2pm to 4pm. Do go along and join Karen Pritty, from the bonfire society, to find these beautiful creatures on Red House Common. Meet at the car park in Warrs Hill Lane.

MUSEUM: The Mill and Rural Life Museum will be open on Sunday July 31 from 3pm to 5pm, admission costs £1 adults and 50p children aged 10 to 16 years. For more details call John Smith on 01825 723519. On National Mills Day the Mill was used as a radio station and the Friends of the Mill received the following report from Gavin Keegan ‘Once again, the Downland Radio Group were privileged to be able to operate a radio station from Chailey Windmill using the call sign GBOCHW - Chailey Heritage Windmill. Radio conditions were not of the best due to a D Layer absorption event which affected the amateur radio bands over that weekend but we were able to contact a good number of mills in countries including Poland, Germany, Switzerland, Ireland and all parts of the UK and we made a total of 76 radio contacts in total. Many thanks once again to the Friends of Chailey Windmill for allowing us to operate our station from this beautiful and historic mill’.

JOUTSENO GOSPEL CHOIR: On tour from Finland, will be at St Peter’s Church on Friday August 5 from 6pm to 7.30pm. The choir numbers about 20 singers in addition to the conductor, a pianist and possibly a saxophonist. They sing a variety of styles from traditional and contemporary gospel, spirituals and other spiritual songs, mostly in English. There will be an interval when tea and cake will be available. Tickets, from The Friends of St Peter’s Church, are £5 (accompanied children free) and will be available on the door or from Janet Barnes on 01825 722574 or email [email protected].

PCSO: You will know that Sussex Police have reviewed their operational mode and decided among other matters to break the link between the PCSOs and their village or neighbourhoods. In future, PCSOs will work as a team out of Lewes and will be drafted to a neighbourhood which is demonstrating signs of needing a police presence to prevent or follow up on crime or anti-social behaviour. Thanks go to our PCSO Steven Knowles for his friendship and his interest in our village during the last seven years. His presence and personality, as is said by the parish councillors in their report in Chailey News, have been much appreciated and will be missed.

SHAPING CHAILEY: The Steering Group places current drafts of the Neighbourhood Plan on the website (www.chailey.org) for comment. There will be consultation meetings in the autumn but they welcome comment and advice as they proceed, please use this month’s prompt to consider our Vision Statement and initial thoughts on housing and design

COUNTRYSIDE ACCESS STRATEGY: East Sussex County Council is consulting until Friday July 29 on future management of its Public Rights of Way and countryside sites, which include Chailey Common. The consultation appears to confuse management of footpaths with the more demanding management of areas such as Chailey Common, twice the size of the other seven areas put together and with its own ecology, currently under improvement using a National England grant. Interested residents can read more and comment at consultation.eastsussex.gov.uk/ where Shaping the Future of our Countryside is the featured consultation.

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.