Northiam

Charity Line Dance: The Charity Line Dance to raise money for little Rhys will be in the Village Hall on Saturday, October 3rd . If you would like to find out more about this little boy and his condition – take a look on Northiam & Nearby Facebook page. Money is needed to help him to be able to live at home, as he has a tracheostomy and ventilator. Tickets are £5, and there will be tea/coffee/cake at £1.50. The Dance will be between 2.30 – 5pm – please contact Sally 01797 252108 or Ann 01580 240217 for tickets or information.

Plant Fair: Great Dixter’s Plant Fair will be held on Saturday and Sunday 11am-4pm. The WI will be manning the tea tent and there will be specialist growers from all over Europe.

Harvest: One of the pleasures of being part of a rural community is the real experience of harvest, whether it’s from our gardens and allotments or our proximity to farmland. Our Harvest Festival is this Sunday in St Mary’s at 10.30am, when Andy Wooding-Jones, who used to run Ashburnham Conference Centre, will be preaching.

Sport: There are plenty of ways to keep fit within the village – do take a look in the Parish Magazine or Pretious Sports Hall website. On Fridays, there is Dance Club (Sequence Dancing) in the Village Hall at 7.30pm every week, apart from the first. Badminton clubs for all ages are on Friday, with the juniors run by Pete Thomson (07815 84517), with three graded sessions on a Friday evening, starting at 5.30pm. This is followed by the adult club at 8.15pm, which is run as a drop-in session, contact Karen Ayling (01797 253375). A further drop-in club is run by Sue Clark (016797 253428) on a Monday for one hour from 5.45pm.

There’s Pilates in The Village Hall on Mondays at 6.30pm, and Wednesdays at 9am and 10am, Yoga in the Village Hall on Tuesday at 9.30am, Streetstyle Dance in the Pretious Hall on Tuesdays 6 and 7pm and Karate on Thursdays. Football is catered for by Beckley Rangers for youngsters and Northiam 75 Football Club for adults – contact Tony Bishop (252843). Shortmat Bowls and Line Dancing are now in Beckley Village centre.

Not forgetting the summer sports, Cricket and Bowls, and the quietly popular Angling Club. So if you fancy a spot of exercise, why not go along to a club and introduce yourself?

WI: John Cave will be making a welcome return to the WI on Wednesday. Last year’s rendition of Jack Thackeray’s work was so popular they’ve asked him back again! The craft group are busy making Christmas stockings for vulnerable children in the Hastings area. Anyone interested in joining the WI is invited to join the group at 2pm in the Jenkins Room.

Cub Scouts: The Cub Scout group is currently suspended, as we haven’t got a leader. If anyone could take on this role, you would be doing a very worthwhile and enjoyable thing. Jacky Broad would love to hear from you if you would consider this. As she says, Cub Scout Leading / Scout leading is a rewarding occupation, giving the opportunity to learn and pass on life skills and Scouting values to young people. We have options with the Northiam Group for volunteers working both with the young people and helping out supporting the Group by being a member of the Committee. The duties are not onerous and our meetings often only 6 in a year. They are brief but it is important as we are a Charity in our own right and have a duty to maintain proper accounting etc to the Charities Commission. Please contact Jacky - [email protected] or Peter -pvmurphy.freeserve.co.uk for an informal chat and perhaps a cup of tea / coffee!!

Beckley Players: Ticlets are on sale for Anyone for Murder? A comedy thriller by Brian Clemens and Dennis Spooner which will be staged in Beckley Village Centre. Contact Keith or Carol Hunt 01797 260898. The opening Gala Night is on Wednesday 7th and tickets are £10 including cheese and wine. Friday is Theatre Supper Night, costing £15 and including a 3 course meal! And if you just want the play, then Thursday and Saturday are £7. The play starts at 7.30pm, supper at 7pm. Book your tickets early to avoid disappointment!

Northiam Nursery: Northiam Nursery are back from their summer holidays and having had fun at the seaside are exploring an ‘under the sea’ theme, making fish and other sea creatures, if you have any items that might help with this (that are age 2+ friendly) please do get in touch. The little ones at Northiam Nursey are always looking for creative ways to express themselves, so they are always grateful for donations of things such as craft bits, plants, seeds for their garden and any unwanted toys. Ahead of their Christmas Fair they are also looking for some mugs (unchipped and clean please), any unwanted gifts and some spare Christmas wrapping paper/decorations you may have. If you are a local business there are some sponsorship opportunities, or if you are interested in volunteering your time, local people who would like to get involved, be it reading to the children or helping with our garden, would be very welcome. The Nursery is run as a charity, so needs our support! Call 252799 during school hours.

Bonfire Procession: Invite your family and friends to Northiam for Saturday 24th so that you can all enjoy our fabulous fireworks! Bonfire Societies will process through the village from 7.30pm carrying lighted torches, with drums drumming, leading us to the Bonfire Field for a huge bonfire and spectacular fireworks. Entry is £1, but we hope you will give to the charity collectors on the route. Don’t miss it!

St Mary’s Services: (4th ) 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am Harvest Festival

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