Hellingly & Horsebridge

CLASSICAL GUITAR CONCERT: On Saturday June 17 at 7pm at Hellingly church you can go along and enjoy an evening of warm and cascading music as Mark Jennings takes you on a journey of discovery including works by Bach, Weiss, Tarrego and Lobos. Tickets are £6 at the door or book on 01323 841685. Mark Jennings has a ‘Great technique, beautiful tone and a musicality that is rare.’ This will be Mark Jennings’ first visit to Hellingly Church. He has been playing classical guitar from an early age and performing across the UK. You can read more about Mark at https://markguitarjennings.wordpress.com. Tickets are £6 on the door.

MEMORY WORKSHOP: This is on Tuesday at 2pm for those with early stage dementia and/or their friends and family. Go along and enjoy refreshments and give your memory a workout. Let Revd David Farey know if you are coming by Email [email protected]; telephone 01323 440450; mobile 07512 370221.

PARISH CLERK: Hellingly Parish Council held a leaving party for their Clerk, Suzanne Collins, and a hello for their new Clerk, Jenny Hoodless. ‘We will all miss Suzanne but think Jenny will also make a good clerk’ said Vice Chairman, Gill Hesselgrave. A finger buffet supper was held in the Village Hall on Friday May 26, a presentation made to Suzanne and we wished her all the best for her retirement, and hope she gets her golf handicap down.

PARISH COUNCIL: At the May meeting the chairman circulated a statement from Councillor Dashwood-Morris. Following the election of the chairman, Councillor Garry Hopcroft made a statement to council concerning the recent court case involving Councillor Dashwood-Morris. He felt that as Councillor Dashwood-Morris had not tendered her resignation he did not feel comfortable remaining on the council and therefore tendered his resignation and left the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 7.35pm for the public to address council. Fifteen members of the public were present in part. The members of the public asked whether they could know what was in the statement made by Councillor Dashwood-Morris. The chairman read out the statement to all those present. It was queried whether she would feel comfortable carrying on as a Councillor given what had happened. The chairman explained that was a question that only Councillor Dashwood-Morris would be able to answer. A comment was made that she had pleaded guilty so therefore would not be able to appeal. The chairman explained that there are two parts to any case the finding of fact and the sentencing and it is the sentencing that can be appealed. It was noted that unless a Councillor has received a sentence of 3 months or more imprisonment they are not disqualified as being a Councillor. The chairman thanked Council for attending what was always going to be a difficult meeting. He expressed his sadness that Garry Hopcroft had felt the need to resign as he felt that it was appropriate to give Councillor Dashwood-Morris time to reflect on what had happened. Her actions did not affect the Parish Council and she was not on the Planning Committee. He would write to Garry Hopcroft expressing his regret at his resignation and thank him for all the work that he had carried out for the Council.

LOWER DICKER RECREATION GROUND: Council had been asked to remove ash trees on the Lower Dicker Recreation Ground as the roots were said to be causing damage to a neighbouring property. Council agreed the expenditure of £850 to remove these trees, the work would be carried out once the rooks had stopped nesting.

BLUEBELL TRAIL: The report to members is out and makes for a lovely follow up to a lovely season. The Bluebell Walk Partnership of John and Carolyn McCutchan and Philippa and Michael Vine says: The first part of the report celebrates a very successful year, due to virtually perfect weather conditions, in that the very warm weather as the trail opened encouraged the first bluebells into flower, then it turned cold at night, so as the bluebells emerged they retained their colour and stayed upright, as there was no heavy rain or strong winds. This lack of rain meant no muddy paths and no parking difficulties, so different from last year. All spring flowers fared well, with many visitors commenting on the vibrant blue of the bluebells and the spectacular vistas of firstly the white wood anemones, then the bluebells. The various improvements were well received, especially the extension to the White Walk, now accessible from the Upper Pond as well as the Lower Pond, plus the surface dressing with road stone of this new path and the River Walk round the Appleton’s maize field, made it so much easier for families with push chairs. Enlarging the kitchen in the Bluebell Barn was welcomed by the participating charities, giving them more room in which to work and a separate door to bring in the crockery for the dishwasher. An enlarged image to eight feet by two feet taken by Pete Goldsmith of the sun rising as seen from the Lower Pond last year, created much interest and we have used that iconic image on the stationary items that were sold on the HOPS stand. Our report of last year mentioned the damage being done to the bluebells by those visitors who made unofficial paths amongst the bluebells to take photographs, not realizing that in the process the bluebell leaves were trodden down, and therefore could not create the reserves they need to flower next year. This year we made metal hoops based on the design we saw in use at Sheffield Park, and used them as soon as we saw new paths being made amongst the bluebells. They had limited success, but often some inconsiderate visitors walked round or over them, which means next year we will try a more effective deterrent. More next week.

WORLD WAR II WEEKEND: Over the weekend of June 17 and 18 from 10.30am to 5pm you can step back in time to the 1940s as Michelham Priory pays tribute to the war years with displays, activities and entertainment. Discover the role Michelham played during World War II when it hosted evacuees and visit the display gallery in the main house. There will be traditional World War II music and entertainment in the Tudor barn. Come and see the many veteran vehicles parked around the grounds and chat with the owners. Activities for children throughout the day. Artefact handling. Watch out for Viv the Spiv and other wartime characters. Wartime themed products available in the Dovecote Shop.

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