Fairlight

In our churches this Sunday, November 10… it is Remembrance Sunday. There is a service of Holy Communion at St Peter’s at 8 am, and a little later, at 10.30 am, it’s time for Morning Praise at St Andrew’s.

Up and running… that’s the Players’ November production, which is ‘Prescription for Murder’, a neatly nasty murder play by Norman Robbins, brought to life under the direction of Roland Garrad. Having opened last night, it leaves you with three choices for when you want to go and see it – this evening, and tomorrow matinee or evening. The cast of seven includes three newcomers to Fairlight, of whom two are new on any stage! It will only cost you £6 for the privilege of spending the evening (or afternoon) in the village hall working it all out. Bring your own chips to have with the red herrings, which are sure to be on offer! Ticket sales were a mite sluggish to start with, due no doubt to the inclement weather. The Players are hoping the outlook at the end of the week will be more acceptable for Fairlight audiences, who turned out in force for their showing last April.

The Wine and Social Club… meets on Monday next, when the speaker will be Charlotte Moore. She will enlighten those attending on all aspects of the life and times of Benjamin Leigh Smith, a genuine East Sussex character who died in 1913 after 85 adventurous years. Club members are in for a treat! In the village hall, of course, at 7.30 pm. You’re not a member? Have a word with their Membership Secretary Christine Jones on 813538. Their year runs in parallel with the calendar year, so a new session is almost upon us. I’m not sure about the situation regarding vacancies.

The Bowls Club’s Coffee Morning… which was held on Saturday last, was its usual success, with their supporters chipping in so generously that the Club cleared just short of £600. A highly satisfactory outcome for this friendly crowd.

Saying it with music… Many will recall the spell-binding evening earlier this year when Ann Rachlin visited the village hall with her talk ‘Edy was a Lady’, about the life and achievements of Ellen Terry’s daughter Edith Craig. Now Ann is bringing her latest presentation to Winchelsea. Entitled ‘Say It With Music’, it shows the 101-year life and countless songs of Irving Berlin. In addition to Ann’s sparkling narrative, illustrated with more than 100 fascinating screen images and rare video clips, her production will be enhanced by the celebrated Pegasus Choir, who are coming down from London especially to perform the musical excerpts. These have been exclusively arranged by Iain Kerr, another gifted and talented performer, whose input to the Players’ Maria Marten and Happy As A Sandbag have given him a strong fan-base in Fairlight. The extra-ordinary rags to riches story of Irving Berlin will be unfolded in Winchelsea’s Church of St. Thomas on Sunday, December 8 at 6.30 pm.

Ann gave this show its premiere performance last month at the University of Durham when a record capacity audience gave it a rapturous reception and ovation. Ann was accompanied by the Grey College Choir on that glittering occasion, which was streamed globally via the internet to over 4,000 alumni worldwide.

Tickets for the Winchelsea staging go on sale at Winchelsea Post Office from Monday, November 18. They will be £10 each. Liquid refreshments will be available both during the interval and after the show. Fairlight residents who are unable to book personally at Winchelsea Post Office, may contact Iain Kerr on 814477 or by email to [email protected]. Iain would lime to make it as easy as possible for us in the village to book their seats for a show he’s sure they will thoroughly enjoy. All proceeds go to the Winchelsea Church.

The Citizens’ Advice Bureau… is renowned for the help it is able to give ordinary people who have an apparently insuperable problem to contend with, just like you and me, And the organisation in Rother (which has a Bexhill main branch, and satellites around the district, though not in out village) is feeling the pinch on its resources in these austere times. They are appealing for funds, and if you’re flush at the moment, you might like to help them along. As ye sow…Think about it!

Not today, but next Friday, November 15… it’s the Activate Quiz & Supper in the village hall at 7.30 pm. They’re looking for teams of four to six, each of whom will be paying £6 for adults, and £4 for Activate members. In addition, there will be a bar and a raffle, and Wendy, on 812297, is awaiting your call to take your booking.

In a fortnight’s time… on Saturday, November 23, the village hall will be home to the RSPCA Annual Christmas Fayre from 10 am to 1 pm. Get those donations rolling in (attractive re-sellable goodies, not cash) to enable the Society to keep up the good work for which it is so well-known. If you’ve got something nice for which you no longer have any room, call Ann Craske on 813434, and she will arrange to collect it, or them. You could deliver items direct to Ann at Brigadoon, 12 Lower Waites Lane. Whatever you do or don’t give, do get along on the 23rd in support.

And in three week’s time…it’s the Fairfest Barn Dance in the village hall on Saturday, November 30 at 7.30 pm. The ‘Flat Cat’ Barn Dance Band will be providing the music, and telling you what to do. Tickets, at £7.50 each, are available from the Post Office or from Jennifer Annetts, 812476, Margaret Pulfer, 814866 or Terry Mosley, 812144. There’s a pate or cheese ploughman’s, plus a bar and a raffle.

Let there be light? (continued)… There’s more about the church and extra light. Not St Andrew’s this time, but St Peter’s, whose west facing roof suffered as a result of those high winds. Three bands of roofing felt have parted company with the roof. Of course, there is no more light in the building as a result, as yet – but it will need rector-fying before further winds can do major damage.