Fairlight

Here to serve: Always willing to accept input from all quarters within the village even, as the annoying saying has it '“ 24/7, but do not try to reach this column between 1 and 2 am early next Sunday morning. Because it doesn't exist! Indeed, that's when we shall all be silently prowling the house moving the hands forward on sundry clocks, watches, alarms, appliances and the like. British Summer Time will be with us!
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Mar 2016, 00:00 BST

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Church Matters: Eyes down for a very busy Church weekend, for Easter is with us! Today, Good Friday, March 25, there is a 10.30 am service at St Andrew’s and, simultaneously, the Walk of Witness at Pett, fro Church to Chapel. On Easter Day, Sunday March 27, there is the 6.45 am Sunrise Service on the Firehills for which, thanks to the clocks going forward, your body is going to think it’s 5.45 am, and then there’s an 8 am service of Holy Communion at St Peter’s, and later a 10.30 am Holy Communion at St Andrew’s.

MOPPs: Today at the village hall, you will be excellently entertained by singer Carol George, and there will also be the Easter Bonnet Parade. Food for the day will be salmon followed by apple pie. Next Friday, April 1, will be a Clothes and Cards Day with Bonmarché and Sandra Stunt, as well as there being a Star Prize for the Raffle. Lunch will feature roast chicken, with banana custard for afters.

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This could run and run: Some 3,500 brave souls tackled the Hastings Half Marathon last Sunday and Fairlight’s Jo Santer and her daughter Alice Tigwell did exceptionally well, with Jo coming home in 2 hours 40 minutes, and Alice in 2 hours 13 minutes. Between them they raised an admirable £400 in aid of Alzheimer’s research, and in tribute to Jo’s Dad

Activate’s Musical Afternoon and Tea: A packed hall enjoyed the talents of Jim Saphin, Aidan and Chris from Dorey the Wise, Ukulele trio Aureservoir including Ken Hall (confusingly the group was contemplating a name change, possibly to Hall and Blokes), the Activate quartet of Olly, Matt, Emily and Esme and the Village Voices. Roland Friday was on keyboards, while Ken Hatch augmented much of the action on bass guitar. An excellent selection of home-made cakes was available along with lots of cuppas. The event made some £350 for the Activate funds, both needed and deserved.

The Conservative Spring Buffet Lunch: Is on Saturday, April 9, and is in Pett this time round. The guest speaker is Battle’s new MP, Huw Merriman. Tickets are £12 each, which includes donated wine, and can be obtained by calling Jacqui Lait on 814251. I wonder if there’ll be French, Italian, German and Spanish wines for those who wish to Remain, with US, Australian, Chilean and South African wines for the Brexit followers…

The Pantomime Group AGM: will take place in the village hall at 7.30 pm a week tomorrow on Friday, April 1. All members are invited to attend. April 1st? Oh, yes it is!

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Wine and Social club AGM: The club’s AGM will be held on Monday, April 11 starting at 7.30 pm. Following the recent tradition, the business end of the evening will be followed by one of their renowned quizzes. Members are reminded that there is the traditional petanque evening coming up on June 13, and then one of their extremely popular themed evenings on July 11. The theme is Turkish, which is sure to be a delight. Ouch! Anyway, Christine Jones needs to know who will be attending each of these events. She’s on 813538

Could this be unique?: That’s the forthcoming substantial sale of plaster moulds on Saturday, April 2, at Skyscape in Channel Way. It starts at10.30 am. Small moulds will be £2 and large ones £5. Go and give it a look.

Speakers Corner: Arriving shortly is the AGM of Speakers Corner, the popular fortnightly group, with the meeting being on Wednesday, April 13 at 2.30 pm in the village hall. As usual at the end of their season, the meeting will be followed by the Members’ tea.

Happy Birthday, Val: Only being fair to the distaff side – after all, I mentioned her husband Tony’s 80th, and their joint Diamond Anniversary, so it’s right to wish Val King many happy returns on her 80th on Easter Day, Sunday, March 27. And she loses an hour of her special day, too!

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Aubrey Sinden: It is with sadness that we record the passing of Aubrey Sinden, almost exactly 51 years after he made his Fairlight Players debut in ‘Ladies in Retirement’. He died in Peasmarsh Place on Saturday last. Aubrey, who was the group’s Chairman in the earlier 2000s, had also directed the group starting thirty years ago with a spoof production of ‘Macbeth’. Aubrey was hilarious in his last appearance in Fairlight as the mercenary waiter in 2010’s ‘Out Of Order’. Many local people will remember being baffled as children by Aubrey’s displays of magic or captivated by his Punch and Judy Show, and he was member of the Magic Circle. Aubrey was closely connected and involved with more groups in the village than just the Players. He was also wholly responsible for setting up the unique Sunday afternoon ‘Tea with Sir Donald Sinden’, which brought the world-famous thespian to our village hall in 2011.

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