Icklesham

CHURCH SERVICE: Sunday 28th June is the 4th Sunday of trinity and there will be a service of Parish Eucharist at 10.30 am.

FLOWER FESTIVAL AND ART EXHIBITION: Only one week to go before the church holds its Flower festival and Art Exhibition on 4th and 5th July. The title this year is “My Favourite ....” and there will be over 30 flower arrangements on display.The Icklesham Art group will be filling Manor Chapel with the paintings and other art work, some of which may well be for sale. In the Memorial Hall there will be lots of plants for sale plus cakes, jewellery, a nearly new stall and a large Tombola for you to try your luck. The Ladies from the Church Market are in charge of the refreshments which will include ploughmans’ lunches, cake, tea and coffee. Donations for the cake and produce stall or refreshments would be much appreciated. Please bring them to the hall on Saturday. Times for all this are Saturday 4th July 10 an - 5 pm and Sunday 11 am - 5 pm. On Sunday at 10 am there will be Songs of Praise, a friendly service of favourite hymns sung among the beauty of the floral arrangements. The work on the Tower has been completed but you will see, when you visit the Church, that there is still urgent work to be done internally. This is an important fund raising event for the church. Please help by supplying the stalls, coming to visit and bringing your friends and neighbours.

WEATHER: I’m really pleased that the sun managed to make an appearance on the day of the Solstice. The days are reasonably warm for the time of year, but not so the nights. They have been decidedly chilly.

MANOR FARM OAST: On Sunday 28th June from noon until 3 pm there will be the Annual Garden Party at Manor Farm Oast. There will be plants for sale, live music from Ricochet, a treasure hunt, a raffle, and ploughmans’ lunches with ham/cheese or pate and a glass of wine or soft drink. For catering purposes please ring 01424 813 787 for advance reservations. The cost is £7 per person.

QUEEN’S HEAD: The live music on Sunday will be played by the Pete Prescott Band offering covers. On Wednesday 1st July there will be a Quiz Night starting at 8.30 pm. £2 per head in aid of St. Michael’s Hospice.

PARISH COUNCIL: Following the May elections the following Councillors were either elected or co-opted onto the Parish Council for the next four years. Icklesham Ward, Jane Austen, Corrine Merricks, Jim Horsman, & Nick Warren : Winchelsea Ward, Steve Turner, Bob Davis, & Clive Pope : Winchelsea Beach Ward, Sue Lyward, Peter Turner, Hugh Sutton, & Tony Moore : Rye Harbour Ward, Jacqui Stanford, & Steve Tollet. Peter Turner was re-elected as Chair of the Council for the next year and Jim Horsman as Vice Chair. The Planning Committee will be Peter Turner, Jim Horsman, Steve Turner, Sue Lyward,, Jane Austen, Nick Warren & Jacqui Stanford.

WORKING GROUPS: Working groups have been set up to look at and make recommendations to the Council in respect of :1. Sports, recreation, Open Spaces, & Allotments. This group’s work will include making recommendations regarding the proposed new Sports Pavilion at Icklesham Recreation Ground. . 2. Local development Plan. 3. Affordable Housing.4. Rye Harbour Car park & toilets.

The Council intends to review its procedures in respect of use of its Open Spaces, ( recreation grounds & sports pitches,) and Allotments to ensure in both cases that our procedures are up to date and working for the benefit of all residents and users. We welcome any comments / suggestions on these matters from interested local parties - please write to or email the Parish Clerk with any comment you would like the Working group to consider.

HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY: The Council has now received the full report from Action in Rural Sussex on the future needs for affordable housing & market housing in the wider Parish and the statistical analysis and comments from the surveys returned. A large majority - 80% - of residents who returned the survey form in favour of affordable housing and the need for 15 additional dwellings across our four Parish villages with this need split fairly equally between small market housing for retired residents who are looking to downsize, & affordable housing for young people/ families on low incomes. The Council has set up the new Affordable Housing Working Group to liase with Rother District Council to identify suitable sites for both the new market housing needs and the exception site affordable housing. All suggested sites from the returned survey forms will be included in this assessment and we will keep local residents informed of progress

DIAL-A-RIDE BUS SERVICE: The Council has agreed a £2,000 grant to enable Rye and District Community Transport to continue this popular and much needed service, which provides dedicated transport for those with mobility difficulties, helping them to maintain independent lives.

YOUR COUNCILLORS: Your councillors are here to represent you and welcome your views on any matter. Please do talk to them or send your reviews/ requests to the Parish Clerk at [email protected] or write to Wildgoose Cottage, Gorsethorn Way, Fairlight, East Sussex, TN 35 4 BQ

ICKLESHAM CASUALS FOOTBALL CLUB: A short report as we take a break following the end of last season and look forward to and prepare for new one beginning in August. Dan Russell was presented with the Sportsmanship Trophy on behalf of the 2nd team by East Sussex Football League President Dick Milton at the League Presentation Evening at Little Common Football Club on Monday, 18th May. Training for the new season will begin at the Recreation Group in July. Dates will be advised on the club facebook page, website and in Village Voice in due course. we look forward to seeing all current players again and welcome any new players who would like to come along.

GOLF TOURNAMENT: The Icklesham Casuals Golf Tournament this year is taking place on the afternoon of Friday 10th July at Sweetwoods Park Golf Club which is near Cowden and on the A264 between Tunbridge Wells and East Grinstead. The cost is £29 for a round of golf and a meal to follow. Once again it will be a stableford competition with trophies for the successful golfers and tee-off times will be around 3 pm. It is not too late for any past and present members of the club to take part - we would love to see you there. Please contact David Mayne on 01424 424 986.

ICKLESHAM TRUST: Stuart Baker has sent this information. Have we as a Village gone full circle regarding our pavilion? Pre 1959 Icklesham had a very primitive changing facility located at the top of the Icklesham Recreation Ground. Although it served its purpose it was a village eyesore. In the late 1950s the widow of Walter Merricks donated funds for a new pavilion which was opened in 1959. At this time Icklesham could boast the best changing facilities around the area for miles, showers, electric lights, and hot and cold running water, a building that home clubs and the village were very proud of. It was fair to suggest that at this time Icklesham was 15 to 20 years IN FRONT of the surrounding villages. As time has moved on the old building, which is now 56 years old, has deteriorated considerably back to a condition that is best described as a village eyesore, very primitive and embarrassing both to the village and those that visit to play their sport and use the playground facilities. I have observed, going around the county supporting football and cricket, that Icklesham is now 15 to 20 years BEHIND the visiting teams.

Please continue to support the new pavilion project. This will be an opportunity to encourage the youth and get families involved as well as our sports clubs. The Icklesham New Pavilion is on facebook. Just like the page to become a supporter of the project.

SCHOOL SUMMER FAYRE: The Friends of Icklesham School will be holding their annual Summer fayre on Saturday 27th June between 11 am and 2.30 pm on the sports field. In the event of rain, the Fayre will still go ahead in the school hall area. This year’s theme is “The Enchanted Wood” and we have our very own Princess in the woods who children can visit. We will also be having a King and Queen of the Forest fancy Dress Competition, a design a ‘Friends ‘Logo competition which will be judged by Icklesham Art Group, and a Garden in a Box competition. Other attractions on the day include Raffle, Tombola, Face painting, Lucky Dip, Bouncy castle, Win a Bottle, Crafts, Football and netball competitions, Hook a Duck, and Hoopla games, Cakes, Ice-cream and refreshments. There will also be a BBQ - kind thanks to the Robin Hood for donating the food,- and the Police and Fire brigade will be attending. There will be displays in the arena with Country dancing, Acromax, Pulse Circus, Rye dance and Maypole dancers. EVERYONE is welcome to come along.

SCHOOL NEWS: Year 5 children were given the responsibility of ‘taking over’ the school last Thursday. They were very impressive as Head Teacher, secretary, lunchtime staff and teachers. The children - and staff - enjoyed the day and everyone gained a lot from the experience. The organisation of the classes for the next academic year is taking place on 26th June for Mrs. Kneller’s class, and all the others on Thursday 2nd July. The classes will decide on their new class names for the coming year with their teacher on those days. Theme to be announced !! The awards this week go to the Year 5 Takeover Superstars who win the Headteacher’s award, and Xanthe, Dylan, Jenson, Connor, Samuel, Josh, Harry, Lois,and Cohen. Next week Yr 5 will be on their Residential trip.

CONTACT: Please continue to let me have your reports, news and announcements which you would like to appear in Village Voice. Ring me on 01424 815 247, pop round or use the email. Happy to oblige.

AND FINALLY: There are lots of things happening in the village in the next few weeks. I do hope the sun shines on all the events which happen out of doors, so everyone can enjoy them.

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