Icklesham village voice

In 1930, a method of damp-proofing the Church was used by pointing the stones of the walls with a cement mortar. This proved a disaster as rainwater entered the masonry through cracks in and around the cement and could not escape. Damp began to soak the stonework, cascading down into the body of the Church, damaging plaster and paint and encouraging vegetation to grow on the walls. Architects now know that ancient walls need to breathe, absorbing damp in the winter and exhaling it in warmer weather. We need to chip off all the tower’s cement and replace it with a lime mortar. Similar work has recently been completed at Guestling Church. This is a costly business but essential if our Norman Church is not to be badly damaged. Each house in the parish should be receiving a leaflet explaining how parishioners can help. Donations can be made to Icklesham PCC and sent to Canon H Moseley, Pilgrim’s End, Manor Close, Icklesham TN364BT.

On Sunday at 6pm there is a ‘Songs of Praise’ at which village people will be talking about their memories and have chosen their favourite hymns. It will be a celebration of the life of our Queen and our village.

Monday 4 June. Invitations to the Fun Afternoon have been delivered.

Each has been coloured by a pupil at Icklesham School. I wish I knew who did mine.

All villagers (and family, friends or guests, of course) are invited to bring a picnic and liquid refreshments to the Recreation Ground between 1 and 5.

Competitions, prizes and much more including on the outdoor stage the Geoff Bellhouse Band and the lcklesham Players entertaining using the last 60 years as their theme. There will be a fancy dress competition for both under and over 8s, and chances for best adult costume and Golden Oldie Hats. The Big Lunch will be officially opened at 1pm by the Vice-Lord Lieutenant Mrs Sara Stoner Lord Lieutenant’s are the monarch’s official representative in each county.

At the Robin Hood the Bonfire Society will torch the official Icklesham Beacon at 10.26pm with fireworks to follow. Food and drink will be available at the pub.

Look out for the scarecrows around the village. The best will get prizes and will be named about 4 on Monday.

The future of the pavilion was discussed at an Open Meeting in the Memorial Hall on 15 May. Icklesham sports clubs wish to thank everybody who supported it. It was agreed by an overwhelming majority to back a cricket, or stoolball the contact details are on the inside cover of the Parish magazine.

The Icklesham Players next production is Thursday 14, Friday 15 and Saturday 16 June at 7.30. lt is the premier of an adaptation of Wilkie Collins’ famous novel “The Woman in Black” Janet Kates is both playwright and director. The book was the very first thriller and was serialised in 1869, 20 years before Charles Dickens started to write his serialised “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”. The cast includes Grace Carey-Stuart, Jessica Wilson, Aubrey Sinden and Judy Welsh with new to the Icklesham stage Dave Carey-Stuart, Andy Godfrey and David Shortman. Tickets, £6 adults £4 children, are available from Icklesham Village Store or by calling Nicky 01424 812996.

Starting today a new evening bus service for all 4 wards of Icklesham Parish Council will operate Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The bus will leave Rye Harbour at 7.15 and go to Rye, At 10pm it leaves Station Approach, Rye, for Winchelsea, Winchelsea Beach , Icklesham and Rye Harbour. It will drop passengers as close to their home as possible.

This service is sponsored by Icklesham Parish Council and East Sussex County Council and aims to enable Rye Harbour residents to get into Rye early evening. (Winchelsea and Icklesham residents have a 100 service getting to Rye at around the same time and Winchelsea Beach a 344 service) and for all to get back home later on.

The service is timed to leave Rye after the last train from Hastings has got in (and will wait if that is running late). So Icklesham Parish residents can go into Rye in the evening knowing they can get home. Contribution Adult £1, Under 165 50p.

Monday 11 June 2-4 Ferry Road Health Centre Rye the Patient Participation Groups have a tea party in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care. All are welcome.

Laurie Bowman, Magpies, Oast House Field