Northiam

After a few hiccoughs – not least the shock of seeing the Muddy Duck close last week –we are ready and eager for our first Bonfire Procession and Fireworks! Addressing the most important question first, yes, the pub will be open for the evening! This will be where the visiting Societies meet, and you may be able to listen to Section 5, the wonderful drumming group from Hastings as you wait for the procession to start.

The procession will line up from Beales Lane at 7.30pm, and once the torches have been lit, will march along Main Street to the bonfire field in Hastings Road. Once everyone has arrived at the field we will enjoy the massive bonfire and a firework display. There will be food and amusements on the field from 6.30pm – admission £1, and there will be a food stall and bar on the Playing Fields.

The A28 through the village will be closed from 6.30pm, and it would be great if people on Main Street could park their cars in the surgery car park. Collectors along the route will be rattling buckets in aid of our three charities this year – Northiam Pre-school, Northiam Scouts and Frewen College. The parades tend to be quite noisy, so please take precautions with animals and young children. Let’s have some fun!

This evening (Friday) all marshals, collectors and Bonfire members should go to the Church Centre at 7.30pm for a safety briefing, and we do reiterate that no fireworks may be brought onto the Bonfire Field or along the procession route: it is an offence to discharge fireworks in a public place.

On Saturday morning, there will be a Coffee Morning in aid of St Michael’s Hospice in the Village Hall 10am until midday. There will be home made cakes, bring and buy, a raffle, bric-a-brac, gifts and books. All welcome.

The Footpath Group are off to Tenterden As Calm as a Millpond on Sunday, leaving the surgery car park at 1.10pm for a 4 mile walk from Tenterden Museum.

There are some meetings to provide an update on how works are progressing on the Bexhill to Hastings Link Road: Friday 22nd November at Crowhurst Village Hall, Tuesday 26th November at Hastings Town Hall (both 3.30pm – 7pm), and Sidley Children’s Centre, Bexhill on Thursday 28th November 3pm – 6.30pm. There will be representatives of the project team and contractors on hand to answer questions about how the road is being built.

The Village Hall Trust are holding another Book Sale on Saturday 30th November, with a range of books and jigsaws, many suitable for presents or to keep for your own Christmas pleasure.

In the Hall at the back of the Muddy Duck, Artists of the RotherValley will be holding their second Christmas Art Show on Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December, 11am to 5pm. Local artists K Philip Harrison, Terence Ayling, Vincent Matthews, Susan Fields, Christine King, Mark Fisher, Louisa Crispin, Glenys Griffiths, Carol Mitchell, and Felicity Flutter will be showing paintings, etchings, photographs, ceramics, jewellery and cards - some investment pieces and many answers to your quest for Christmas presents. www.rothervalleyartists.co.uk

In the evening the Bonfire Society are holding a Quiz Night with Damien and Gina Sanderson back in the village to test our grey matter! Tickets are £8 per person to include food in the interval. Please call 253375 to book a table of eight – or individuals can be teamed up.

There will be some extra flu vaccination clinics at Northiam surgery, on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th November, and a final one on Monday 9th December. They will run from 5pm and will need an appointment.

There are just a few days left before the next clothing collection in aid of Chitiwiri, the school in Malawi. Please put any unwanted clothes, shoes (in pairs) handbags, towels or soft toys in a bin liner and drop them off at the Post Office before Tuesday 26th November. The money raised will be used exclusively to benefit the children of Chitiwiri.

Services (24th): 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am Morning Praise