Icklesham

Tomorrow 19 October 10.30 - 12noon a coffee morning in aid of Family Support Work in the Memorial Hall, Cakes,Raffle,Mugs,Bring and Buy, Christmas cards. Always an enjoyable friendly morning.

Sunday 20 10.30 Parish Eucharist in All Saints.

Queen’s Head Live Music 4-6 Black Sheep Let’s Rock.

Wednesday 23 Help the Heroes Quiz Night 8.30 in the Queen’s Head.

Friday 25 7pm the Memorial Hall A.G.M. of the Icklesham Horticultural society.

Sunday 27 A Sponsored Walk raising funds for the New Pavilion. It involves a 19 mile walk from Eastbourne Pier to Hastings Pier.So far it’s David Mayne, Nick Warren and Stuart Baker. If you would like to walk with them or sponsor contact one of them to get a sponsor form.

Icklesham Village Store will be closed on Sunday 27 and Monday 28 October.

Tuesday 29 re-opens with winter opening hours.. On weekdays it will still open at 7am but will close 30 minutes earlier at 5.30. Saturday opening will be at 8.30 (not 7am) but will still close at 5pm. Sundays are the same -9am - 12.30pm.

Stuart Baker thanks everybody who supported last week’s quiz. He apologises for the mix up with fruit and veg and thanks the quizzers for bearing with him. The evening made £314 for Church funds. 14 teams took part and until round 6 it was close but then “Empty Heads” ran away with it. Stuart especially thanks Charlotte, Emma, Janet, Christine, Andrew, Sandra, Pete and everyone who helped tidy up. The next Quiz is Saturday 16 November.

5 November is a Tuesday and as always the Robin Hood Bonfire Society has its big day in the field next to the pub. Gates open at 6.30. The Procession is followed by the Firework Display at 7.45 and the lighting of the Bonfire. Licensed Bar,Hog Roast, BBQ, Hot drinks. Entrance is adults £3 and children £2,

Sadly Ian Harry Scott passed away on Wednesday 2 October and there will be a Service of Thanksgiving in Icklesham Parish Church at 12.30 today. Ian was born on 8 January 1932. His father was a London City Missionary running a Christian centre in South Norwood. Ian had a brother Graham who was a year younger and 2 sisters. Ian attended Selhurst Grammar School and he particularly excelled in sport and athletics. He developed a lifelong devotion to Crystal Palace F.C. When the family moved to Edinburgh he went to George Heriot’s School . In this great rugby school he was in the first fifteen for 3 seasons. During National Service in the R.A.F. he was mostly in Germany and became a corporal representing his unit in both cricket and rugby.

Towards the end of his Service Ian was approached by an old and respected toy company based in London and in late 1952 he became a Management Trainee with Dean’s Rag book Company. His career began in Dean’s Reigate in the pre-Christmas rush. The Company moved to Rye in 1956 and Ian’s territory now he was not an on the road salesman stretched from Kent to Bristol and included Rye’s two shops; one in Landgate and the other in the High Street. His comment to himself as he left the town after two not very successful visits was that it would be a long time before he would come back to Rye. Little did he know that only a few months later he would be living and working in the town.

In July 1959 Ian and Daphne married in Muswell Hill Baptist Church.

His promotions in the Company once settled in Rye were rapid. He was Export Manager, General Manager and by his early 30s was Managing Director and Chairman. Dean’s employed over 100 people in their Tower Street Factory (now a fish restaurant). Ian played rugby for Hastings and Bexhill R.F.C. and was closely involved working with children in St Leonards Baptist Church where he was a member and deacon. At times it could be good fun working at Dean’s. Each year they entered a float for the Bonfire Night celebrations and usually won their class. One year Ian was Lawrence of Arabia perched on a lifelike camel and surrounded by cut throat Arabs mainly recruited from the Sales force. The company always supported summer carnivals and Ian never lost his sense of fun, humour and wit.

Dean’s left Rye after 25 years and in 1981 transferred its manufacturing to Pontypool and Hengoed in South Wales. By then it employed over 200. Throughout his career Ian’ was intersected in the safety aspects of merchandise and he worked closely with testing laboratories to improve standards of safety in British toys. He also worked with the EU in Brussels ensuring European toys were as safe as possible. Ian travelled the world holding seminars about toy safety. He became the face of the British toy industry representing the British Toy and Hobby Association on radio and television. He served a term as Chairman of the International Committee of Toy Industries. He was a frequent expert witness in many legal action gaining respect in the courtroom for his honesty, traditional values and common sense. Ian was awarded a Life Time Achievement Award by the Association.

By the 1980s the British and European toy industry was suffering from competition from Asia where cheap toys were often badly made and sometimes unsafe. Ian’s expertise after 55 years’ experience meant that his advice was valuable throughout the world. We extend our deepest sympathy to Daphne, daughters Isobel and Kate,Ian’s sister Alison and his sister-in-law Anthea.

Later events in November are

Sunday 10 November Remembrance Service.

Saturday 16 Quiz Night.

Saturday 23 Ricochet concert Memorial Hall 7.30 tickets now on sale £5.

Monday 25 7pm for a 7.30 start Icklesham Trust Committee A.G.M.. A chance to meet the Committee members who look after the Hall and the Pavilion throughout the year. All the villages clubs, societies etc are represented on this committee.