Etchingham

The Harvest Supper will be in the church at approx. 6pm. We are trying a less formal event this year so there is no charge, if you would like to bring a plate of food to share it would be most welcome, but not compulsory, but please provide your own plate, cutlery, drink and glass as we have no washing up facility in the church. We’re supporting the Agricultural Benevolent Society again this year and all donations will be gladly accepted for that.

Please pick up a ticket from the shop so we know how many are coming.

FLOWER & DOG SHOW: The Flower and Dog Show is tomorrow (Saturday September 13), today is the last day to get your entry form in, so if you not done it yet get you form in now.

The Flower Show opens in the Church at 2pm, entries for the Dog Show are taken at the ring in Queen’s Garden on the day from 1.30pm, show commences promptly at 2pm.

DISPLAY: We will be putting the display of photos and memorabilia on again in the church during the Flower and Dog Show. The display includes old photos and postcards of Etchingham and the surrounding villages and some interesting memorabilia from village history. There are a lot of local books that you can browse through, and some WW1 items. A large part of the display will remain in the church for a couple of weeks after, so if you do not see it on the day you can go into the church any day 11am to 4pm.

BARN DANCE: A Barn Dance with the Catsfield Steamers will be held in Robertsbridge village hall on Saturday September 20, 7.30pm to 11pm. Ticket Price, to include food £10 Adult, £5 Child under 12, Under fives free. Bring a party of 6 and get one ticket free.

Tickets available at Etchingham Shop & Deli or email [email protected]

Organised by ETSR to raise funds for the new hall and community facilities.

SPEEDWATCH VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED: We currently have six trained operators and could a lot more sessions if we had more volunteers. Volunteers have to attend a short instruction session at battle Police Station, for instruction on safety while operating at the roadside, training in the use of the equipment is then undertaken by the group co-ordinator. The volunteers are then able to be deployed on Community Speedwatch sessions.

Find out more about Speedwatch by going to the village website and clicking on the Speedwatch link www.etchinghamvillage.co,uk

If you would like more information about becoming a Speedwatch volunteer phone 01580 819532 or email [email protected] .

SPEEDWATCH EQUIPMENT: The Etchingham Speedwatch group operates its regular sessions using a device which needs to be collected from Battle Police Station each time. It is now possible for groups to purchase their own device, this gives the group the flexibility to operate sessions at times that suit the operators availability, the weather and also be able to target the worst times for speeding vehicles without being restricted to when the device is available.

The Etchingham group is hoping to purchase a device for use in the village, the device costs approx. £900, the Parish Council has agreed some of the funding and applications have been made to several other organisations, none of these organisations are able to help with funding. So we are still looking for possible sources of funds, if anyone has any suggestions for funding sources please email the details [email protected]

PCSO: The new PCSO for the village, Iain Tomsett will be holding regular “Meet me in person” sessions at the Bistro. Iain will be at the Bistro at 9.30am next Tuesday September 16. Your chance to pop in and meet Iain, make him aware of any problems, ask him questions or just introduce yourself. If you need to contact him Iain these are the contact details [email protected] Mobile; 07810813409, or call 101 and ask to be put in touch with PCSO Tomsett.

MOBILE LIBRARY: The Mobile Library was in the village yesterday, if you missed it the next visit will be September 25 3.40pm to 4.20pm. Since the closure of the village hall the library van parks on the forecourt of Bracon Place on the east side of the level crossing.

PERFORMERS WANTED: it is now nearer next Christmas than last, so apologies for mentioning the ‘C’ word this early in the year, but it is time to start thinking about the Christmas concert and play in the church. The event will fall on Saint Lucy’s Day, December 13, so the script will feature the Scandanavian celebration of Sankta Lucia, Saint Nicholas, along with a traditional Sussex Mummers Play. Previous participants will be invited to a planning meeting in September, some new people to join in will be most welcome. If you or your friends fancy getting involved contact Philip Hinde 01580 819434 [email protected]

DIARY DATES: Saturday September 13, Flower & Dog Show in Queen’s Garden and Church; Saturday September 20, Barn Dance in Robertsbridge village hall; Saturday October 26, Halloween Party; Saturday November 8, Fireworks; Saturday December 13, Christmas Concert in the Church. Venues for the Halloween Party and Fireworks are still to be confirmed and will be announced when known.

INFORMATION: If you have given me details of your event to put in this column, please remember to send me some details after the event so I can let your supporters know how successful the event was, how much you raised, interesting facts etc. Your supporters will be interested to know how you did. Get information for this column to me as soon as possible, if you have a diary of events planned for the year let me have the dates and I will put in a list of village events for the year so that people can put the dates in their diaries. There are several ways to get your info to me, but email is preferred because there is less chance of errors during copying. I need information by 10pm on Monday to be sure it will be in time for inclusion, I can sometimes add extra items on Tuesday morning, but this cannot be guaranteed. Just a little reminder, I get plenty of information about events that are taking place, but I get very little follow up information, after your event try and remember to send me brief account of how successful your event was, it can be as simple as a thank you to those that attended and how much money was raised etc. You can deliver to 2 Park Farm Close, telephone 01580 819532 or 07941 786244 or email [email protected]

Colin Boylett

2 Park Farm Cottages