Ninfield and Hooe

AND STILL IT RAINS: It's the Summer Solstice, the longest day, nearly midsummer and yes, couldn't we all just murder the weather. So much for the hopeful forecast a few weeks ago, heralding the hottest June for a hundred years, or was that for Dubai? Horrendous, especially for all the weddings and fetes that have been carefully planned over the previous months. It doesn't matter if there's a contingency plan, or an extra gazebo put up just in case of a shower when you're faced with the deluges we've experienced recently...no added piece of plastic will cope successfully with that amount of water and wind. The Other Half and I are still trying to dry out, after a beautiful wedding and reception in a field was soaked, and sent southwards, in Sunday's summer storms. Not only the cakes had soggy bottoms. Now, if we could all go back to the marvellous sun dances we were doing before the Queen's Birthday weekend? With a bit of collective practice, we might get a dry spell throughout July; and then all our carnivals and music festivals can take place without poppet hats and plastic ponchos permanently placed in prominent pockets.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Jun 2016, 01:00 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 23:01 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

Ninfield & Hooe newsNinfield & Hooe news
Ninfield & Hooe news

CARNIVAL COMMITTEE: Now it’s surprisingly only a few weeks away, and there will be extra meetings on Wednesdays in the run up to July 15 and 16. This is the time where slight panic starts to kick in, and the lists seem never-ending. So the next meeting, on Wednesday at 8.30pm in the Tin Hut, will concentrate purely on all carnival details, from the arrival of the marquees on the Thursday, to the decorating of same on the Friday, the Big Quiz on Friday evening, the full day event on the Saturday, including the Scouts Big Boot Fair, the evening entertainment on Saturday and last but by no means least, the final breakdown on Sunday morning. The latter is always the last push in the energy stakes. But, it’s always made more palatable by the fantastic full breakfast that’s cooked on the barbecues for all helpers at 11am. So if you’re interested in that and helping throughout the three days of the carnival, please come to the meeting on June 29, it will be a pleasure to see you and I’m sure you’ll have some fun joining the brilliant team that put this event together. Call me for more information.

GRAND RE-OPENING: The Blacksmiths Inn has its official re-opening tomorrow, Saturday, with fabulous band The Spooky Wagons, so please go along and support the new team led by Jack, Kelly and Manager Nick. The venue looks superb, the food is excellent and great plans are afoot. Good luck Nick, we’re all on your side.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

PARISH COUNCIL: On June 14, members of the parish council met with officers from Wealden District Council to discuss the current state of play in the ongoing Issues and Options document, the latest proposed plan for new house building in our area. Ninfield has a current allocation of 250 new homes, which the village and its council are vigorously challenging. The meeting lasted three hours and a lot of information was forthcoming, with a lot also being delivered to Wealden by parish council members. There are now set timings for the document to go into the next consultation stage, and then for presentation to WDC early next year; so it is now essential for everyone to have their last input before it’s publication in the autumn. There are maps available to view on the WDC website, and Ninfield PC also can give you the links, after looking at them you will see that residents could be affected throughout the entire village by substantial building on these sites. Plus, residents in neighbouring villages of Catsfield and Hooe will have the knock on effect of all the extra traffic. There is limited time now, but enough, for as much detailed evidence to be gathered and submitted as possible to cover Highways issues, environment, wildlife, sustainability questions, conservation, transport, schools. So, please get in touch with the Clerk, Jackie Scarff, by email at [email protected] or call 07725843505 and register your interest to help with the investigative information gathering. There will be a stand at the carnival with all information to view and come to the next parish council meeting on Thursday July 7, 7.15pm, Methodist Hall, Church Lane. We can submit everything extra that we have before the end of July, and then meet briefly with WDC again to plead for less allocated numbers, and choice of sites for building. Remember your village needs you.

BOWLS CLUB: The latest results from Carole Lawrence. The weather held well for Saturday match which ended Ninfield 70 Herstmonceux 48. Then Sunday, before the deluge our team faced Bexhill and the results were Ninfield 68 Bexhill 55. Well done all.

FLOWER GROUP: Before giving the details of their next gathering, can I say thank you again to Jennifer for creating such a beautiful Queen’s Birthday Flower Arrangement. It certainly drew admiring attention as people came into the Memorial Hall for the Afternoon Tea. After the free raffle, Pam, who won the display, was absolutely delighted to be taking it home, an added bonus. So, the next meeting of the flower group is on Monday July 4 at the Memorial Hall, 7.30pm when there will be a demonstration by Iris Shaw, entitled Facets of my Life. Non-members are very welcome at a small charge of £4 which includes light refreshments. Again, all flowers used through the demonstrations will be raffled at the end of the evening. Call Jennifer on 892878 or email [email protected]

GARDEN PARTY: St Oswald’s Church, Hooe, have set the date for their Queen’s Garden Party and it will be held on Saturday July 16, 11am to 4pm and it is presented in conjunction with Hooe Parish Council. There are fliers and posters for all details, and I will give more information nearer the date.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

METHODIST CHURCH: Sunday, 10.30am Service of Praise and Worship with Jennifer Winnington. Messy Church is on Wednesday in the Methodist Church Hall 3.30pm to 5.30pm. Theme: Home and Away.

PARISH CHURCH: St Mary’s, Sunday 9.30am Parish Eucharist. St Oswald’s Hooe, 11.15am Parish Eucharist.

AND FINALLY: June 30 is the 100 year anniversary of The Day That Sussex Died. If you’re up on your Battle of the Somme History, you will know that the Royal Sussex Regiment, 11th, 12th and 13th Battalions, lost 365 men and over 1000 were wounded, with the consequence that many Sussex villages were decimated; and families dreaded the inevitable War Office telegram. To all those Sussex Men who served. Thank you. Lest we forget.

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

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

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.sussexexpress.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Sussex-Express/

3) Follow us on Twitter @sussex_express

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 Sussex Express - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics:Wealden District Council