Fairlight

Church Matters: This Sunday there will be an 8 am service of Holy Communion at St Peter’s, with Morning Praise to follow at 10.30 am at St Andrew’s. Here’s a polite notice about parking in front of St Andrew’s church. If you are able-bodied and sure-footed, could you park in the field opposite the church, which will allow those who are less able to have greater priority in the restricted space at the front of the church. Alternatively, if you know you will not be in a rush to leave, park in such a way as to allow someone else to park behind you. Every little thoughtful action would be a great help. The Church in Fairlight, and in Pett, is seeking volunteer readers and intercessors, for whom support and training will be provided. Here in Fairlight, a few more volunteers to read the bible lessons, or to lead the time of prayer, would be appreciated, and if you would be willing, please speak to Ken Holmes who organises the rota. The practical advice and training will be provided for those who have not done this before by Jean Thomson. Just ask if you’d like this support and guidance. Please ask about this.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Sep 2014, 00:00 BST

Last chance to get your tickets: for Papa Schnitzel’s Oompah Band in the village hall tomorrow, Saturday, September 13 at 7.30 pm. The ‘do’ is organised by the residents association, and tickets are £8.50 each. The Post Office has the tickets, and you take along your own food, drinks and glasses. It’s too good to miss!

Hastings Old Town and Rock-a-Nore: are the subjects well-known local speaker Ken Brooks will be illuminating for the members of the Tuesday Ladies Club on Tuesday next, September 16. The club meets in the village hall at 2.15 pm, and, as ever, visitors are always welcome.

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The Benefice Harvest Festival Faith Lunch: is just around the corner, coming up on Sunday, October 5 in St Peter’s Church All are welcome, and if you would like to bring a guest that would be great. If you’d like to attend, please ring Linda Willard on 812316 as soon as possible.

Fairlight’s Macmillan Coffee Morning: will be held in the village hall from 10 am to 12.30 pm on Saturday, September 27. Last year, this communal charity event was a resounding success in support of the renowned and invaluable Macmillan organisation, and the organisers are hoping for a big turnout from all local residents again this year. If you would like to join in by volunteering to help, or running a stall, or providing items for sale, or baking a cake, please contact Sue Clarke on 813006, Karen Draper on 814154, June Dyer on 812528, or Betty Snow on 812694.

Fancy a pre-Christmas shopping trip?: The Tuesday Ladies’ Club has a few spare places on their coach to Ashford Outlet Centre on Tuesday, October 28. The coach will leave the Circle at 10 am and return from Ashford at 3 pm so there will be plenty of time to take the shuttle bus from the Centre to the town if you get ‘shopped out’! This trip is free for Tuesday Ladies Club members and only £5 for non-members. Further details and tickets from Mary Stewart on 813031.

Breaking new ground: The Panto Group’s production next January is to be Rapunzel, for the first time for the group. Ben Burford will be directing the piece and auditions will be held in the village hall on Friday, September 26 at 7 pm. Rehearsals will not begin until quite a bit later in the year (yes, we’ll remind you before they start) so the successful auditionees will have plenty of time to learn their lines…

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A Neighbourhood Plan: Find out what a Neighbourhood Plan is, what it could do for Fairlight, and what is involved. The Parish Council believes that having such a plan could benefit the village. There’s to be a meeting in the village hall next Tuesday evening, September 16 at 7.15 pm. You’ll be able to ask questions and let the meeting know if you agree with the plan of action. If you have any queries please contact Cllr. Stephen Leadbetter either on 812890, or by email to [email protected]

The Wine and Social Club: enjoyed a great evening’s entertainment on Monday, when professionally operatic trained Peter Snipp sang his way through Matt Monro’s repertoire, interspersed with Matt’s life story. A very good turn-out thoroughly enjoyed themselves. If you’re not a member yet, you could be by the New Year!

Activate is up and running again: This week has seen the resumption of Activate’s activities once more, and included in the programme is cooking. In fact, on Tuesday, September 23, they’ll be making chocolate mallow biscuits! The Activate Aero Club will be starting on Thursday, September 18, at which they will be holding a few sessions on creating, building and flying balsa-wood aircraft models. Ken Jarratt will be coming along to show some of his models and advise on how to make your own. This is open to all aged 10 years and over and will coincide with Activate Youth Club on Thursdays, from 7.30 to 9.30pm. Come to club on Tuesdays or Thursdays to find out more. Also back is Busyart, Activate’s art and craft club for children aged 5 years and over, which will be recommencing on Monday, September 15. The meetings in the clubhouse last an hour, starting at 3.45 pm. Subs for each session are £2.

MOPPs Meeting: At MOPPs today, it’s time for their Annual General Meeting, with a pleasant reward of roast pork followed by rice pudding and fruit, while next Friday, September 19 sees Sharon the singer coming along to entertain the members before a good old traditional lunch of sausage and mash plus gateau for pud. There will also be a visit from Sarah Owen, the Labour Parliamentary candidate for Hastings.

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Those Bus Cuts: As well as all the meetings and discussions on the proposed bus cuts, there is now a form to be used by individuals that will let the County Council know exactly what you think about the cuts to our service, the 344. It’s quite a handful, with eight pages of questions and comment, though you need complete only four pages if you are dealing with only one service or route. You could, of course, complete the form on-line if you would rather. One important aspect of the current worry is that the signing of a petition, if you could find one, or a ‘disgusted’ letter written in vitriol, will carry no weight at all. It has to be the form or nothing, which is arranged so that the Council experts can analyse and sum all the responses. However, it really is vital for the future of a useful bus service that as many people as possible return their answers, which will give the public their best chance of winning at least the current battle, although the persistent politicians may end up winning the war! Rather like the long running saga of the cutting of our Fire and Rescue services, where public cage rattling and sabre waving stems the ‘enemy’ for a while. But will the effects be lasting?

Martin-OOH Lane: White paint aerosols have been out in force, decorating the edges of some of the worst of the potholes in Martineau Lane. And some of them are very bad indeed, particularly those that are not in the non-existent gutter, but right in the flight path of your nearside wheels. In Broadway, some of the markings had to be replenished, I think twice, before the infill was at last applied. Let’s hope the Lane gets quicker attention than that! And further to the contractor’s redressing of Fairlight Road, just like last time, no immediate effort has been made to put back the white lines that are such a help to motorists, especially in the season of mists that is about to be upon us. No sarcasm is intended. Cars do actually rush along this road now much further out towards the middle than they do when invisibly constrained by the white lines. And perhaps they will re-expose the cat’s eyes while they’re painting the lines.

Keith Pollard

Brookfield, Broadway