Ninfield

Ladies, do you have any unwanted bras? Battle Waste and Recycling Group have launched a bra recycling scheme. Unwanted bras, in any condition but clean, can be taken to collection points at Knickknicks, and Battle Post office. The bras are sent to a central depot, sorted and then sent out to Africa. This scheme also supports Breast Cancer Research and 1066 Cycle Club projects. It is an ongoing project and your “support” is much appreciated.

Ninfield Bowls Club finished August on a high note with a massive win over Fairlight, 117-62. On Sunday September 1, the club enjoyed an internal club competition which they call “Scrivens”. The competition was initiated some years ago by the then captain, Brian Baker, after a past member, Stan Scriven, donated 4 unwanted silver cups to the club. And the competition complete with Scrivens Cup was born. The winners this year were Jackie Richards, Norman McCubbin, John Crittenden and Geoff Groves.

This Sunday is the day, Ninfield Bonfire Society invites you all to their fantastic annual Michaelmas Onion Festival with Fun Dog Show. Please do go along from 11.00am, have some lunch as you watch the parade of Greyhounds, Punch and Judy, Sami Guard’s Dancercise Group; Ferret Racing; Tug of War and lots of other arena events. You can then have a go at archery, bell ringing, see how many bricks you can lift. Try your luck with the raffle, tombola and human vegetable machine. For the children there’s a steam train, bouncy castle, fairground, lucky dips, ducks to hook or they can try the scurry, with or without a dog! And don’t forget to enter your onions, cake or jam in the Onion Tent competitions - they need to be there by 12.30pm. This year they have more things to do and see than before, too many to list here, please go and support them at Hope Cottage Farm Shop, Hooe Road, Ninfield and if you do have any items for the tombola, cakes, produce – anything you’d like to donate – bring it along on the day or phone Carol 893326 to arrange collection. Their website has the full details: www.ninfieldbonfire.co.uk.

Hooe Open Group meet on Friday September 13, 2.30pm at Hooe Village Hall. Their invited speaker will be Pam Vieler who will recall her memories from after the end of WWII. If you would like to socialise with a group of very friendly ladies, who enjoy each other’s companionship, why not come along to Hooe Village Hall on the second Friday of any month, the club commences at 2.30pm and ends with tea and a raffle at 4.30pm. For further details, please contact the organiser Edna Wallis on 01424 842591.

The East Sussex County Council Mobile Library service will next be in the villages on September 14 & 28 at:

Hooe, opposite Denbigh Court, 1.50pm - 2.35pm.

Ninfield, Coombe shaw (off Manchester Road), 2.50pm - 3.25pm.

Ninfield, Downsview (off Church Lane), 3.40pm - 4.05pm.

Ninfield Local History Group are next meeting on September 19, 7.30pm at the new venue of Ninfield Methodist Church Hall. This month they welcome Robert Bonnett from Sussex Mills Group who will give a talk on Ninfield and other local Windmills.

Ninfield Local History Group are having an Open Day Exhibition at the Memorial Hall from 10am on Saturday, September 28, in order to showcase what has been accomplished in recording the many and varied aspects of Ninfield’s history. In addition to the ever popular “Who/Where Is It?” photos section (updated thanks to all those who contributed Names and places!) they will be displaying the superb Ninfield Centenary Village Map as a companion to the 1913 Deeprose Map already on display. This will be donated to the Parish Council for display in the Memorial Hall as a record of the changes and growth in the village. Advance Orders (with deposit, please) can be placed by anyone wanting a Village Map for family and friends. An ideal Christmas present for those who have everything else! (hint, hint!). They will have other maps on display showing the timeline of how homes and businesses spread through the village. To complement that, there will be a map of air crash sites, so again, any memories will be welcome. It may be the piece in the jigsaw which allows records of the Battle of Britain etc to be updated. Adding to the Village Maps, they will also have details of historic buildings such as Luxford House amongst others. Does YOUR house have some interesting facts? What do you know of its age, and who lived there before you? They have arranged for Hooe History Group to have their own display; as well as the local branch of the Sussex Family History Society, there will be 4 local and family history book sellers with their displays and also a confectionery stall. There will be refreshments available of course, and all help towards that will be appreciated, whether a member or not! Home-made cakes (is YOURS the best in the village?) scones etc can all be donated towards the event; tea, coffee and soft drinks (home-made lemonade etc) will be available at reasonable cost. If you want to come along, dressed as a Land Girl, Home Guard or in any other wartime related clothing, please do so! Lastly – but by no means least – there will be a display from Year 5 at Ninfield School with their work. Some of it will be based on James Broughton’s excellent booklet on his Ninfield School Memories. We are arranging for a copy to be presented to each pupil in Year Five. A Village Historical Walks Booklet has been compiled, providing information on the many interesting houses and places around Ninfield. A limited number will be available (First Edition!) at the Exhibition. Walking around the village is now a good excuse for some post Christmas lunch exercise, and showing off your local knowledge to your family and friends. Ninfield Local History Group look forward to seeing you. If you would like further information about the group, please contact Rod Ffoulkes by emailing: [email protected], or calling: 893635.

Ninfield Parish Council are meeting on October 3, 7.15pm at the Methodist Church Hall, Church Lane. All residents are welcome to attend.

A date for your diary: Ninfield Local History Groups are hosting an Afternoon Tea/School Reunion Event on Saturday October 19, 2-5.30pm at the Memorial Hall. This is a repeat of the very successful event held earlier this year. It will be a celebration event linked into their Heritage Lottery Fund project of recording the memories of EX Ninfield School pupils. In due course, they hope to work through the subsequent decades, so everyone will have a turn! Those who have already participated in their recorded “All Your Memories” project will been offered complimentary tickets (on an RSVP basis) as their “Thank You”. If you were a pupil at Ninfield School BEFORE the 1970’s and would like to attend, tickets can be bought at £2 each by phoning John Cheshire on 01424 892248. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the Exhibition (details as above) and the village shop in the near future.

Don’t forget that you can find out more community information from both villages and Wealden District Council on our district councillors (Pam Doodes) website or the Ninfield Parish Council website: www.pamdoodes.com / www.ninfield.webplus.net.

Church Services for Ninfield and Hooe (www.ninfield.org.uk):

St Mary’s Services (Church of England, Ninfield):

Sundays - 9.30am Parish Eucharist (Family Service on 1st Sunday of the month)

Wednesdays - 10.00am Holy Communion.

St Oswald’s Services (Church of England, Hooe):

Sundays - 11.15am Parish Eucharist (Family Service on 1st Sunday of the month).

Ninfield Methodist Church - all services at 2.30pm (unless otherwise indicated):

September 8, Racial Justice Sunday Service with Revd. Ian Pruden

September 15, Holy Communion with Revd. Ian Wales

September 22, Worship & Praise with Mrs Margaret Bickerdike

September 29, Back to Church Sunday Service with Mrs Christine Thacker

Anything that you would like included in the Village Voice for Ninfield or Hooe, please email the details to me: [email protected].