Fairlight

Church matters: There is just the one service in the parish this Sunday, February 19, which is Holy Communion at St Andrew's at 10.30 am. But there is also a prayer meeting, with the weekly date resuming with a new time and location '“ it's to be at St Peter's. Please check with church officials for the time for the meeting, which is set until March 20, after which it will change as the clocks go forward. Why not join in to pray for our village, our church, our outreach and those in need.
Fairlight newsFairlight news
Fairlight news

There’s an important date in the offing for the Rev Kay Burnett, and for all parishioners, because on Sunday, June 18 she will be celebrating, at the 10.30 am Communion service in St Andrew’s, the 20th anniversary of her ordination. The Bishop of Lewes will be leading the service for us.

Kay would be delighted if as many of her friends from Pett and Fairlight as are able, would join her in that service and afterwards at Fairlight Lodge. It is a very special occasion for her, an occasion made for sharing.

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As previously intimated, plans are afoot for a three-day Flower Festival in St Andrew’s, in conjunction with Fairlight Floral Club. The theme is ‘Seasons of Life’, and the dates are Friday, June 30, Saturday, July 1 and Sunday, July 2. It is estimated that the display will consist of 30 arrangements, and some have already been spoken for by those who would like to sponsor them. If you would like to be a sponsor, please contact Linda Willard, either by phone to 812316 or by email to [email protected].

MOPPs today and next Friday: Today, Friday, February 17, sees another visit from the popular and regular guest star, Keith Osbourne, in attendance with his Music for Health. Today’s lunch is roast chicken with lemon meringue pie with cream to follow. Next Friday, February 24, the guest star is singer Tim Gibson. As it’s the free hearing-aid clinic for batteries and maintenance week, it may be a good idea to make sure your accoutrements are working properly before Tim starts! lunch is jacket potato with either Coronation Chicken or cheese and coleslaw, to be followed by fruit crumble and custard

Speakers Corner: Edward Preston’s talk was entitled from Priory to Priory Meadow. While no pictures exist of the Priory, traces of it are to be found, notably beneath ESK who had allowed Edward to take pictures of the remains. After showing scenes of other traces of the Priory, Edward mentioned the Priory stream which runs through Alexander Park. This is the source of a chalybeate spring which apparently gives superior spa water but this has sadly never been exploited by the Council. At this point the audience were entertained by the Gilbert and Sullivan song ‘Ruler of the Queens Navy’ from HMS Pinafore! The talk finished with photos of the destroyed cricket ground which, in reality, was a recreation ground with all sorts of sport catered for. Incidentally, chalybeate (pronounced ka-lee-bee-at) waters contain iron salts and it is a word that appears all too seldom these days. An alternative synonym for chalybeate is ferruginous, an even more delicious word. How fortunate that this column aims surreptitiously to educate even while boring you to tears!

The next talk at Speakers Corner will be on February 22, featuring Andy Thomas talking about Unexplained Mysteries and Cover Ups – sounds intriguing. He won’t be mentioning Lady Gaga, then. But I will be mentioning Shirley Gilbert, whose meticulous summaries are very much appreciated.

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Variety Night: Only eight days to the FRA’s Variety Night, in the village hall on Saturday, February 25, but if you’ve been humming and harring about whether or not you would like to go, I think you’ve probably blown it, as tickets have been an endangered species for over a week already!

Cranford with the Players: Rehearsals are under way for the Players’ distaff extravaganza, ‘Cranford’, based on the work of Elizabeth Gaskell. The play is being directed by Judy Welsh, well known as a performer on countless local amateur stages, as well as a director of musicals and pantos, and she here turns her hand to play direction with her Fairlight directorial debut. She has a formidable cast, which consists of Mrs. Gaskell - Pauline Lucas; Miss Matty - Jennifer Annetts; Martha - Aisling Edie; Mary Smith - Alice Tigwell; Miss Pole - Charlotte Eastes; Miss Barker - Claire Murray; Mrs. Forrester - Penny Kenward; The Hon. Mrs. Jamieson - Luci Mantel; Mr. Hoggins - Steve Hill; Lady Glenmire - Charlotte Miller; Jem Hearn - Thomas Edie. The show will run at the end of the last week of April, so there’s a little time yet before you realise you haven’t booked your tickets.

The Club: You remember, that’s the new name of Activate Youth Club, and it will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, March 8 at 7.30 pm in the Clubhouse on Wood Field recreation ground. Included on the evening will be light refreshments and a chance to see photos of the youngsters’ trip to Greece. All will be welcome!

The Royal British Legion: John Pulfer, Chairman of the Pett District branch of the RBL, has reported a healthy increase in numbers supporting the local committee since the time (11.45 am form 12 noon on the first Tuesday of each month) and venue (Fairlight Lodge Hotel) were both changed at the turn of the year. Now John is reporting a job vacancy which needs filling before too long. The job is that of the Poppy Appeals Organiser, that would keep someone quite busy during the height of the season, in other words from September to the actual collection dates in November. The job would suit someone recently retired, or someone who can be active, and if you are interested, please call John on 814866, or email him [email protected]

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Psst! Wanna buy a boat?: Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat not long ago replaced its main means of rescue, a vessel in excellent condition, but the powers that be insist on replacement at ten years of age. So, the previous boat is up for sale for a mere £5,500, a price which includes a trolley worth £1,000 on its own! Could you make it your very special plaything? Give John Pulfer a call. He’s still on 814866.

Waites Lane potholes: What a semi-sterling effort recently to effect repairs to some of the worst scars on Waites Lane. And, ultimately, how pointless. There were then a further number of holes which only just missed out being severe enough to warrant infill by a millimetre or two across or down. These ten or twelve between the corner and Farley Way have now come to fruition with a vengeance, causing drivers to swear and swerve. A particular problem point comes from the breaking up of the arty double row of granite setts inset to demarcate the edge of the bus lay-by, which is now bordered by a big groove. Just like the larger and thus more pointless artwork in Queens Road, where the sett ridges undulate seductively.

Doing the hokey coney: BT are playing the hokey cokey with their cones up Battery Hill. First they were out, then they were in (the hedge, mainly), repeat until ready. Except they were never ready. Now they’re out again. Workers, shovels and so on may follow. We’ll keep you posted.

Happy Valentine’s Day: By tradition for the last 56 years, my wife always gets two cards each Valentine’s Day. One ‘serious’ effort, all moon and June, and one humorous one. This year there were three cards. The third one was from the dogs. It was just like having teenagers in the house again. I had to chose the card, pay for it, and write it. Then the dogs complained. It didn’t taste very nice, they said, and it should have been ‘scratch and sniff’!

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