Ewhurst Green, Cripps Corner and Staplecross village voice

Tomorrow (Saturday) morning it is Churchyard gardening when Barry and Brian with a team of volunteers makes sure the grounds surrounding St James at Ewhurst Green looks at its best.

Next Thursday sees the Spring Flower Show being held by the Garden Society at Staplecross village hall at 7.30pm This is a good opportunity for you to take along some of your lovely spring flowers, a spray of a shrub or pot plants. Chairman Pam Underhill asks all to “have a go” and take part. The guest speaker is Mr G Spencer whose talk is entitled “Hardy Perennials”. As always there will be refreshments, a raffle, as well as stalls for those plants of which you have an excess in your garden.

Were you born between February 6 1952 and June 2 1953 or were you married during those two dates? If so, and you live in Cripps Corner, Ewhurst Green, or Staplecross (i.e the Parish of Ewhurst) Councillor Maggie Whitaker (telephone 830041) would like to hear from you, as you are all “diamonds”. To celebrate the Jubilee Year, the Parish Council has purchased two trees to commemorate the occasion and would like these parish diamonds to attend the plantings, one at the Herdman Field and the other in Staplecross. To date only one person has contacted Maggie – surely there must be more, otherwise Pauline will be planting on her own!

Last Saturday morning saw over twenty people who arrived to spring clean St James Church in readiness for Easter. Church warden Lizzie Stern thanked all those who participated and especially to Ruth Close who co-ordinated the workers. There was a break mid-morning for delicious refreshments to keep the momentum going.

The boys of Ewhurst United Football Club finished the season last Saturday when coach Dave Perkins, MBE, declared it to have been a good season with some new players to replace those older members. The boys and parents showed their appreciation for all Dave’s hard work by presenting him with an Easter egg, a bottle of wine and a greetings card they had made themselves. The new season starts in September at the Herdman Field on Saturday mornings.

Have you remembered that those who use the Junction Road particularly between Cripps Corner as far as The Curlew that bridge repairs are scheduled to start on Tuesday April 10 until May 18 and the road will therefore be closed with diversions in operation. The work to be carried out is at Udiam where the Hammer Ditch bridge is to be refurbished and there will be temporary road closure for 60 metres either side of the bridge. This is a long window for the repair but Parish Council chairman David Young suspects that this length of time is to allow for contingencies and providing all goes to plan the closure may not be so long. Further information relating to this work may be obtained by telephoning 0345-6080193.

The outdoor Bowls season is approaching fast and preparations for this are already underway at Staplecross Bowls Club in Northiam Road, Staplecross.

Plans include a coffee morning in the Club House on Saturday (April 14) at 10.30am and an Open Day a week later on Saturday (April 21). Both these events are an opportunity for anyone, who would like to play bowls, to go along and meet the members. Staplecross Bowls Club is a very friendly club with excellent facilities and holds a variety of social events throughout the year. New members, whether they can already play, or wish to learn, are very welcome.

Also on April 21, the club will be joining forces with Staplecross and Ewhurst Bonfire Society to hold a Race Night at the Staplecross Club in Northiam Road at 7.30pm. Admission is free, but a light supper will be available for £3.

Brian Scowen (01580 830570) or Terry Rogers (01424 850524) are happy to give more details.

It just remains for me to wish readers a happy and peaceful Easter; may the sun shine (with much needed rain overnight only) and hopefully not too cold!

Mary Reeve, Wodens Wood, Cripps Corner