Fairlight

Brookfield, Broadway

In church this Sunday… at St Andrew’s Church at 10.30 am, there is to be a Communion Service led by the Rector, Richard Barron. The service will include the presentation of Shoe Boxes. What have shoe boxes to do with our church? Well, when you get those new boots or trainers home, you are left with an ideal sized container with a lot of life left in it and, fortunately, many of these useful receptacles are then filled with gifts and goodies for either boys or girls in one of three specifies age groups. A look at Operation Christmas Child’s website will guide you as what would be appreciated, and which items are a no-no. You will also need to donate £2.50 per box to help cover the cost of collection of the boxes, their transport overseas and distribution in the country to which they are sent. The organisation behind this excellent charity is called Samaritan’s Purse, and this initiative is the largest deprived children’s shoebox event in the UK. If the idea is new to you, do look it up on the internet. It is possibly a parallel to the Parable of the Sower, bringing joy and happiness to many of the world’s youngsters who see little of either. In addition to the web, you can call 01392 455036 for more information and/or leave your shoe box at St Andrew’s Church where it will be delivered with the rest.

Sad tidings… It is with sorrow that we record the death last week of Chris Lewis, formerly one of our Parish Councillors. Chris had been unwell for some long time. Sincere condolences are extended to his wife, Brenda, and to their family.

It’s tonight…! There’s a Quiz and Supper in aid of our excellent local Youth Club, Activate, but notice of the event is pretty short, because it starts at 7.30 pm today. Yes, it’s in the village hall, and will cost adults £6, while Activate members can get in for £4. The quiz will be organised in teams of four to six people, and there’s a bar and a raffle, plus guaranteed fun. Book with Wendy on 812297. You’d better ring her now!

Coffee up… There’s a coffee morning in the village hall tomorrow, Saturday November 17, from 10 am to 12 noon, and it’s all in aid of the Royal British Legion. This most worthwhile of causes deserves your support, so please do go along; their continuing and invaluable assistance to those in need over so many years really calls for more than your loose change in the tin for a poppy once a year.

The Tuesday Ladies Club meets… next Tuesday, November 20, at 2.15 pm in the village hall. Their talk will be Twittens and Cat Creeps of Hastings Old Town, and it will be given by Clive Richardson, who is a British Tourist Authority Blue Badge Guide. How fortunate that the Old Town does not boast a Phantom Raspberry Blower!

Roll out the barrel… for Richard Filmer, who will be visiting the Literary Society next Wednesday, November 21 in the village hall commencing at 2.30 pm. He will be talking about ‘The Craft of the Cooper.’ Clearly, they do it ‘just like that!’ There are still nine events to go this season, including this one, so membership at £7 remains a bargain. If you fancy a sample, it’ll only cost you £2.

A different face… Following the departure of Parish Council Highways and Public Transport supremo Richard Pollard, we’re pleased to let you know that Cllr Rev Val Gibbs has agreed to hold the fort for the Council on these matters. Fairlight residents should report highway faults in the first instance direct to ESCC Highways, and in an emergency, phone the police, but Val Gibbs will take up any persistent or longer-term issues.

A prospect for a severe winter… Perhaps you can picture yourself warming your fingers and toes in front of a roaring fire, that is your house burning steadily to the ground? It is really not too fanciful, and the Save The Ridge Fire Station movement needs every bit of help and support we can all, as concerned and possibly one day affected local residents, give it. The next opportunity you have to show your support comes tomorrow, November 17, at Icklesham Village Hall in a Public Meeting at 10.30 am. Those attending will include a representative from East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, as well as our MP, Amber Rudd. This will be one of the last chances for people living in the villages east of Hastings to express their concerns before the decision is taken on the 13th December. Why has nobody explained to us how they compute that coming from Bohemia instead of The Ridge takes only four minutes longer?

‘And This Was Odd’… the Players’ first offering for 2012-13, was a successful production last week, with a particularly strong presence on Friday and Saturday evenings, and while Thursday evening and Saturday matinee audiences were smaller, they were nevertheless highly appreciative. Keith Miller’s direction of Kenneth Horne’s well established light comedy gave each member of the cast his or her turn at the fore-front, with most opportunities, well taken, falling to Jennifer Annetts as ‘Mopsy’, leading lady Mrs Simmonds. The setting, principally constructed by Trevor Lewing, nicely evoked the 50s, aided by Monica Hayes’ costume plot. A gently amusing evening’s entertainment was had by all, without anybody on stage losing their trousers or displaying their underwear!

The Players’ thoughts turn to their next production… to take to the boards in April. They, and their audience, had enjoyed their AGM entertainment in the early summer, which was a pier-type revue of songs, sketches and one-liners, and so they will be turning to ‘Happy As A Sandbag’, Ken Lee’s nostalgic revue of World War II, with not only songs and cameos of the forties, but visits from some of the personalities of the war years, like Churchill, Hitler, Chamberlain, Vera Lynn, Max Miller, the Andrews Sisters and many more. The show will run from Wednesday 10 to Saturday 13 April, with the extra performance added to satisfy members of the British Legion and Veterans Associations, together with those studying the subject at school, with topics such as evacuation, gas masks, bombs, ‘put that light out’ and rationing. The team that brought ‘Maria Marten’ to life – director Keith Pollard and musical director Iain Kerr – will be at the helm, and auditions will take place early in January. A nostalgic look back, then, to the days before ‘patriotism’ became a dirty word! Watch, as they say, this space!

There’s a busy Saturday in a fortnight’s time in the village hall… On Saturday, December 1, Fairfest are running a Cheese and Wine evening from 7.30 to 11 pm. Dance and party to music from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s. The £6.50 tickets can be obtained from Jennifer on 812476, Wendy on 812297 or Margaret on 814866, or at the Post Office. The Fairfest event will be preceded by the Village Hall Christmas Fair from 12 noon to 3 pm. These biannual fairs give a welcome boost to the hall’s funds, and should be supported as such a high percentage of residents use the hall for one reason or another. Go on, visit all the stalls, and grab your chance to get one of the popular lunches on offer, right from the start of the fair.

Warning of running repairs… which will be taking place on two nights, from 7.30 pm – 6 am, during which there will be road closures, although access will be maintained (rather like the works earlier in the year, one supposes) During those earlier works, May Gurney carried out a great deal of necessary carriageway patching works from Ore Village to Winchelsea Beach, and these two days should see the completion of the remaining works - from Pett Level toilets to the Toot Rock junction on Pett Level Road on Thursday, November 29, and from Mill Lane to Peter James Lane on Fairlight Road on Friday, November 30. These works may be delayed in periods of wet weather. Do look out for the advance warning signs on site for any date changes.