Mountfield

(GROWN UP) FILM CLUB LAUNCH: The Mountfield Big Screen Film Club is set to launch on Friday January 29th with “O Brother Where Art Thou”.

Released in 2000, this warm comedy movie, headlined by George Clooney, quickly achieved cult status, not least because of its soundtrack. Modern artists like Alison Kraus and Emmylou Harris are mixed in with traditional southern states, cotton fields, mountain and early bluegrass singers and musicians. The Coen brothers directed, the musicians provided the soundtrack, Clooney and his co-stars provide the warmth and comedy, the Mountfield Club provide the bar, the Village Hall Committee provide the popcorn and snacks (seriously) — and all for five quid on the door. Doors open at 7.30.

M&W SCHOOL SITE: We’d intended to report on last week’s Parish Council meeting but events have rather overtaken things. The Councillors discussed the site. It failed to sell as an educational site. We don’t know whether any attempts were made to rent or lease the site as after closure, all negotiations were conducted behind closed doors until recently. It was resolved to ask our County Councillor, Kathryn Field, to try to find out exactly what was going on. First, In last week’s Battle Observer, it was reported that the Secretary of State had signed authorisation for the sale of the site. Then, on Monday, Kathryn received a reply from Mr Stuart Gallimore, Director of Children’s Services at ESCC, confirming that a third party, commercial company, Orbis Property, had been retained to dispose of the site in “spring 2016”. We don’t know who the beneficiaries of the sale would be. And we don’t know how those beneficiaries regard this windfall. We do know that M&W School — the land and the buildings — were given to the two local parishes (“to be forever thereafter…”). MPC believe it is still a community asset and resource. There is much yet to be decided.

MOUNTFIELD CLUB: On Saturday night, the Club held the annual Fred Stace charity darts night which was very well attended. The blind pairs darts competition was this year won by Luke Hardy and Bruce Sargent and the blind pairs shove competition was won by Kevin Gray and Archie. £256 was raised for the RNLI which was one of Fred’s chosen charities. The club would like to thank Steve Sutton for organising the whole event and for everyone who helped with the raffle and donated food for the buffet.

The Club is also hosting a St Michael’s Hospice charity quiz night on Thursday February 18th. There will be a £2.50 entry fee and all proceeds raised will be donated to St Michael’s Hospice. For more information please contact Steve Smith on 07720 298971.

CONTACT: If you have anything for the Village Voice, we can be contacted on 880614 or via [email protected].

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RyeandBattleObserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @BattleObs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Rye and Battle Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.