Fairlight

Just the one… service this Sunday, December 2, and it’s an All Age Service at 10.30 am at St Andrew’s. The service will be led by the Rector, Rev Richard Barron.

The Tuesday Ladies Club’s November meeting… turned out to be one of the most interesting talks they have ever had. Their speaker, Clive Richardson, had lived in the Old Town before moving to Battle and he is very knowledgeable about its history. ‘Twittens and Cat Creeps’ are very much a Sussex thing and the terms are still used in West Sussex, though there are those in Fairlight who mention twittens. Twittens and cat creeps came about through what we would call nowadays “infilling”. The few Houses in the Old Town had huge gardens and they started to build on them, causing access problems which were resolved by knocking through houses to make “twittens” or “cat creeps”.

A typical cat creep can be found at Tamarisk Steps. These creeps got their name as they were used by the local cats busy on rodent extermination and the difference between a “twitten” and a “cat creep” is that the latter runs between streets on a different level. Clive Richardson had many slides of the wonderfully colourful miniature gardens and the many twittens in the Old Town. A Rev. Parrish wrote a book on Sussex dialect which can be been at Bexhill Museum and makes fascinating reading. All those present thoroughly enjoyed the talk and the Club was very pleased to see a good number of men in the audience.

The Club’s December meeting is for members only. At it, they will be able to enjoy a Christmas Tea, and music from Brian Roberts.

Tomorrow, tomorrow… there’s still time, just, to get your ticket for Fairfest’s Cheese and Wine Party tomorrow at 7.30 pm in the village hall. The hall is likely to see a number of people letting off steam as they dry out following the incessant rain, and dance away the evening to some music from the 50s to the 80s. They can replenish their stocks with a cheese or pâté ploughman’s washed down with something from the reasonably priced bar – and your first glass is complimentary. You might even win the raffle! Call one of Jennifer on 812476, Wendy on 812297, Margaret on 814866 or ask at the Post Office for your tickets. They’re priced at £6.50 each

All together for the Floral Club…On Thursday last week there was certainly a lot of sparkle about when Sophie Beaney gave a floral demonstration entitled Sophie’s Sparkle. Not only was there sparkle on the leaves and flowers she used, but also in her banter and the laughter of the audience. Altogether it was a highly successful afternoon.

The Club’s next meeting is on Thursday, December 6, when the members will be enjoying their Christmas Party. There will be fun and games on the enjoyment menu, while the food menu is a bit of a surprise as each member has been requested to bring and share.

The first meeting next year will be a visit from Brenda Wilson of the Shirley Leaf Petal Co in Hastings Old Town. She will be coming along to give a talk.

Thought transference…? Probably not, but by the time last week’s Voice appeared, the main pothole culprit on the Top of Fairlight Road had already been filled in. Hardly effectively, it must be said, as the filling is itself developing a pothole. You really do have to kill them stone dead, otherwise they will just self-propagate. And though I made fun of the warning cone placed there to warn of the abyss, and it got shattered, nobody thought to remove the broken bits, and they remain there.

Nearly there… the final round-up for the decision on the down-grading of the Ridge Fire Station is almost on us; it is to take place at the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters on Thursday, December 13. If you have not yet done so, please do enter Save the Ridge Fire Station into your web browser search engine, and follow the link to GoPetition, where you will be able to ‘sign’ up. Several have already, but higher numbers can be more expressive, and could exert some influence. We all hope.

It’s the Christmas Fair… at the village hall tomorrow, Saturday, December 1, from midday to 3 pm. What with the multiplicity of stalls, plus lunches, cakes and a good cuppa, it’s one you shouldn’t miss. And all the proceeds go to the maintenance of the halls, which are comprehensively used and enjoyed by so many in the village. Get along, then, and take some silver with which to cross a few palms!

The Literary Society meets… next Wednesday, December 5, when the talk will be of Tales, Titbits and Twists of Kent and Sussex. The speaker will be Chris McCooey. It sounds fascinating.

Meanwhile, back in the next village… Pett’s Flicks in the Village in their village hall next Thursday, December 6 is ‘All In Good Time.’ This is the 2012 remake from the 60s play of the same name, which had earlier been filmed as The Family Way, a sparkling comedy with John and Hayley Mills, Hywel Bennett and other excellent English players like Marjorie Rhodes, John Comer and even Wilfred Pickles. (I will stop showing my age now!) The hall opens at 7 for 7.30 pm.

The RSPCA needs your help… so could you look out some bric-a-brac you no longer require – items you’d be glad to have if you didn’t want to get rid of them, and donate them for their forthcoming Fayre, which will be in the village hall on Saturday, December 15. They would be very grateful if you would contact Ann Craske (RSPCA) Brigadoon, 12 Lower Waites Lane or Doris Fenner, Moonwind, 14 Lower Waites Lane. Ann would be able to collect items, so call her on 813434. We shall repeat this request with dog-ged persistence, and certainly not become cat-atonic about it.

The Gardening Club’s monthly talk… is on Monday next, December 3, at 2.30 pm in the village hall. This, the last talk of the year, will be ‘Eyes Wide Open’ by Colin Page of Harborough Nurseries. Colin is an old friend of the Club and an excellent photographer. His talks, covering a wide range of subjects, are always a treat. He will be bringing plants and cards for sale. All are welcome and tea is served at the end of the afternoon. The Gardening Club will next meet on Monday, February 4 for its AGM, which will be coupled with a ‘bring and share’ social.