Iden

A SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION: There will be a Service of Holy Communion this Sunday, in Iden Parish Church, at 9.30am

IDEN AND DISTRICT NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY: Tonight, in Iden village hall at 7.30pm, there will be a talk entitled ‘Sussex Wildlife Safari’, by Michael Blencoe. This is a Breda and Ernie Burt memorial lecture. Michael Blencoe is the co-author of a definitive work ‘The Butterflies of Sussex’, which is part of a five year study, to be published in the spring of 2017. Details of how to obtain a special pre-publication copy will be available at the meeting. Visitors pay£3.

A THANK YOU FROM SUE: Sue Cavella, would like to thank all those who donated shoe boxes for the ‘Link To Hope’charity, which Sue collects for in our area. People from Playden Church, and Iden Church, and Iden WI, and all those who contributed. Sue wished me to convey that she is most grateful.

THE PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: Ray Griffin chaired the meeting on 1st November, and began by saying that Iden had lost three residents last month, Peggy Spence, Gwyneth Parsons and Suzanne Kay, who all passed away in October. He expressed his regret, as all will be sadly missed. The council then heard from Councillor Sally Anne Hart, who referred to the recent deaths on Camber Sands beach. Sally Anne said that they are looking at a ‘National Beach and Water Safety Plan’, in conjunction with Fire and Rescue Services and the Police. There are, Sally Anne said, 60, 000, unpaid carers in East Sussex., and there is a drive to make their lives easier, by providing support and respite care. Volunteers are needed, who can give 3 hours or more per week. The ‘Carers Association’ can be contacted, if anyone would be willing to give their time, there is a helpline available. Both Sally Anne, and Paul Osbourne [ chairman of Rother District Council], discussed shared ownership housing, which comes complete with a graduated system of care, for those who are sick and in need of sheltered housing. One such was St. Bartholemews Court, in Rye Foreign, and the other in Sidley, which is sited on the previous Sidley Community Primary School, and now called ‘The Orangery’, which consists of 58 shared ownership units, in which packages of care can be changed accordingly. Paul Osbourne also discussed a ‘Scrutiny Meeting’, designed to improve parking in Rye. Parking is being abused, and solutions sought. The state of Iden’s trees was discussed’ by the council, and also the ‘bat survey’, which had to be carried out on some trees. Trees have been felled in the park, which were considered to be unsafe, particularly since ‘Ash Die Back Disease’. The council had no alternative, but to take advice from experts, which has been costly, but necessary. Our area is not the only one having to fell trees which are a danger to the public. It’s a national concern, and Iden had to comply. Those of you who see empty gaps are no less sorry than the council, because everyone respects trees? Outwardly some trees look okay, but have been reported by experts to be rotting from the inside. Health and Safety is a very big factor in Council procedure, and no matter what we think, it’s here to stay. If a tree fell on someone, it would be catastrophic, and living in the country, we are only too aware that trees fall without warning. .Until I started attending council meetings, I had no idea how much compulsory ‘red tape’ there is. I’m just thankful I only have to sit in the audience. The next Council meeting will be on Tuesday 6th December, at 7.30pm

SORRY TO SAY GOODBYE: Bob and Debbie Hammond left the village this week, and they will be missed. They brought much needed fun and entertainment to the village. Bob wrote and directed our pantomime, and Debbie made the costumes, and supported Bob, in making the panto a success. Debbie was very bright, and spoke a variety of languages. Their input in the village was great, Bob as treasurer of Iden Fete, and Debbie, the secretary. We are going to miss Debs at Iden Book Club too. Our loss is Eastbourne’s gain, but I’m sure the two will be treading Eastbourne’s boards very soon.

BECOMING RE-AQUAINTED: This week is a big week in our house, because my husband will be trudging up and down the loft ladder to [moaning like a drain] bringing down the Christmas decorations. “this is ridiculous Gill”, he will say, but this year my son- in -law is helping, so he may be more congenial, I will have forgotten about owning some of the decorations, so will take much pleasure in befriending them again. I’m sure every household gets nostalgic about decorations, which we only greet once a year like old friends? I’ll start putting up things inside the house, slowly, so that my husband hardly notices that it’s a bit early. [my mum used to say that we are the way we are because of the way our bonnet strings were tied] Maybe that’s true, anyway, my bonnet strings must have been strung with mistletoe. I often stand in the Christmas decoration department, and say to someone I don’t know from a hole in the wall “aren’t these lovely”. That’s the nice thing about Christmas, there is warmth and openness in the air, and you can talk to any old bod!

CONTACT ME: If anyone has anything to add to the Village Voice, please ring Gill Griffin [telephone 01797 280311]

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