Icklesham

Tonight, Friday 20,it’s Race Night in the Memorial Hal staring at 7.30. The Robin Hood Bonfire Society have a licensed bar,nibbles and a raffle so come along and have aflutter.

Saturday 21 the last Church Market of 2013 is in the Church from 11am to 2pm. Cakes, plant and produce for sale plus coffee,teas and refreshments. a friendly atmosphere is guaranteed . If you’re visiting the are just drop in and enjoy the feeling of a Norman Church.

Saturday 21 the first Quiz Night of the season in the Memorial Hall with at least 14 teams involved. It starts at 7.30. Entry £2.50 a person and teams of up to 6. This month’s Quiz is raising funds for the Hall. The next Quiz is on 12 October (not 19 October as originally planned). Any problems contact Stuart at [email protected]

Sunday 22 10.30 Morning Prayer in the Parish Church.

Sunday 22 4-6 The Queen’s Head with Jazz World Music from Lost Weekend.

Thursday 26 , Friday 27 and Saturday 28 September at 7.30 in the Hall the Icklesham Players are presenting a double bill of two one-act comedies. Tickets are £6 available from the Village Stores or Nicky Harris 01424 812996. There are no children’s tickets as the humour is adult entertainment. “ Café Society” is both funny and poignant with three elderly ladies meeting in a café. Josie Body,Janet Kates and Nicky Harris relish their roles. “Last Tango in Little Grimly” is set in a village hall where the local amdrams are trying to make their plays sexier. Del Smith, Greg Slaughter, Debbie McClean and Charlotte Beasties are on stage to meet the challenge.

Saturday 28 September 8pm at Battersea on the South Bank of the Thames The Shine Walk a sponsored event over the Marathon distance of26 miles starts its all night trek. This is raising funds for Cancer research U.K.. Jayne Burns of Icklesham and Emma Daniel of Guestling are walking and would much appreciate any donations to 2 Brede Valley View ,Icklesham.

Saturday 28 September as part of Harvest Festival Weekend the Church Social committee are having a Barn Dance featuring the famous Catsfield Steamers in Pett Village Hall. Come along about 7.15 with your own food and drink before the action gets going at 7.30. No problem if you have never barn danced before the Catsfield Caller will tell you just what to do.Tickets are £8 in advance from Christine 01424 813740 or Janet 01424 814735. If you make a late decision tickets will be available on the door at £10.

Sunday 29 September 10.30 Harvest Thanksgiving. A Service to thank God for Creation, Preservation and all the Blessings of this Life. This will be a Songs of Praise Service with hymns chosen by Icklesham parishioners. At 6pm in St Mary’s Rye there is a Confirmation Service with the new Bishop of Chichester, Martin Warner , presiding.

Monday 30 September the Bishop will be visiting All Saints with St Nicolas, Icklesham, meeting Canon Hugh Moseley and he Churchwardens. At 5pm he will be with the congregation at Evening Prayer.

October is a busy month.

Wednesday 2 8.30 Queen’s Head Quiz in aid of Help the Heroes.

Thursday 3 Youth Club 6.30 - 8.30 Icklesham Memorial Hall The Club is for young people aged 11 to 16. Cost £1.50. Transport will be available leaving Winchelsea Beach at 6.20 and Monk’s Walk Winchelsea at 6.25. there also be ret urn transport. Need to know anything else? Contact Natalie Hollands 077i7311633.

Friday 4 7.30 Icklesham Harvest Supper in the Memorial Hall. This popular annual event is a full meal with drinks and a great atmosphere. Everybody is welcome.Tickets are just £6,50 (same as last year) from Janet Pegg 01424 814735.

Saturday 5 10.30am - 1.30pm Windmill Orchard Farm Shop(01797 227219) is holding a Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Nurses. Raffle,Tombola,Lucky Dip ,cakes,plants and lots more, All are welcome. Plenty of Parking.

Wednesday 9 Short Mat Bowls starts in the Memorial Hall. Two Sessions 3-5pm and 7-9pm. Cost£2.50 a week. Open to all. No experience needed. All you need is a pair of flat shoes If you have any spare woods please bring them along. For more information ring Eric 01424 814869.

Wednesday16 . Everybody is invited by the Five Villages Home Association to the “UK Older Peoples Day” celebrations Afternoon Tea at the Five Villages House 2-4pm. The Guest Speaker is Ann MacFarlane O.B.E.(Independent Living Consultant). The tea is £3.50 per person. If you would like to come RSVP to Five Villages Home Association, The Office, Flat 32, Oast House Field,Icklesham, East SussexTN36 4BQ by Monday 7 October.

November 11. Icklesham needs volunteers to sell Poppies for the Royal British Legion. Brian Pitt who in the past has organised our local collections cannot be fully involved. He will be marching past the Cenotaph with his unit - the Intelligence Corps(Territorial Army). If you would like to help Stuart Baker will put you in touch with the local Royal British Legion branch. contact Stuart [email protected]

Icklesham Parish Council want all residents to be aware of a scheme to reduce energy bills. It’s called “Switched on Hastings”. Hastings Borough Council started it but it is now available in Rother. You have until 15 October 2013to sign up for this collective energy switching scheme, This is how it works.

The community buys energy from the supplier with the best deal.

You sign up now to take part in the scheme with no obligation. Make sure you have details of your current gas and electricity consumption to hand, visit www.uswitch.com for help with understanding how your bill is worked out.

The more people who sign up the greater the purchasing power of the scheme.

In October the various energy suppliers will compete to make the lowest offer in an auction.

The lowest bid wins. Two weeks later you will get a personal offer by email from that supplier and you will have to decide.

The process of switching from your current supplier to the new one will be seamless and simple.

To get help there are two drop-in sessions at the Community Contact Centre, Queen’s Square, Hastings 10.30am -12.30pm on Thursday 26 September and Tuesday 1 October. I Don’t forget to have your electricity and gas bills to hand. You can phone 01424 451055, or [email protected] or visit the Community Contact Centre 4.30- 6pm Monday to Friday.

Interested? sign up now for the Big Community switch www.ichoosr.com

Icklesham School has asked the village voice to include the”Thank You from Mrs Higgs” written at the very end of the summer term.

“I would like to say ‘ Thank You’ to everyone for all their good wishes,cards and gifts. it has been an emotional roller coaster two weeks and I would like to thank Mrs Robinson,Mrs Haddock and the staff team for organising so many amazing surprises. It was lovely to be joined by my family at the recent ‘official do’ when I saw many colleagues I have previously worked with, either at Icklesham or in other schools. I was presented with a lovely book with messages from many colleagues and photographs. I really love the golden locket from everyone and I will always think of Icklesham when I wear it. I was also extremely surprised to receive an I pad which I will have great fun learning to use this summer!

The assembly on Monday, when parents and governors came to say goodbye to both Mr Ahmad and myself, was very moving. The children sang beautifully and I wish I had recorded them. I received a card from each class with self-portraits and messages from all the children. Beech and Elm class presented me with a fantastic framed picture of the four trees of the classes-Elm,Beech,Willow and Oak,with Icklesham Church and the Windmill in the background. It will take pride of place at home as will the superbly stitched reversible quilt with the school logo on and the dates that I have been headteacher and also the wonderfully weird ‘sock donkey’. And, in case I needed more reminding, I have a framed selection of photographs of memorable moments of my time at Icklesham plus a DVD. Thank you also for all the individual gifts including flowers,plants,chocolates,mugs,CDs,plaques,perfume,earrings and other gifts which I have yet to open. Thank you,

My present to the school is a Bird Hide,some bird books and binoculars which I hope the children and the staff will enjoy for many years to come. This should enhance our already well equipped grounds. Thank you Mr Ahmad for providing a selection of bird feeders and food to start he project.

As I write this I am thinking about the Church Service on Thursday and how this year I too am one of the Leavers. Like Year 6, and Mr Ahmad, I too will be very sad to leave but also excited at the next part of the adventure and thank you Mrs Lee(Pam), not only for making such a scrumptious cake but also for reminding me about the quote I used to have on my office door(but which mysteriously disappeared when we moved from the office in the mobile - remember(?) - to the present office)

‘Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all’ Helen Keller

I wish you all a safe and happy summer holiday and all the best to you in your adventures

Love

Mrs Higgs”