Northiam

Karen Ayling, The White House

Well, how did you do in the storm? We lost a rather lovely Whitebeam tree which had been growing at a rakish angle since the 1987 storm. This time, it gently slithered to the ground, apparently without too much collateral damage, but we shall see when the chainsaws come out. I know a couple of oak trees have also been lost, but I think (hope) we have been spared too much trauma this time round – well done to the weather forecasters for getting us prepared!

Good reports from the Nightmare in Northiam – I think everyone had a good time! If that’s the right word.

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Guide Dogs for the Blind are looking for people locally to be puppy walkers. No, you can’t just have an Andrex puppy because they’re lovely, they have to be trained into working dogs! Puppy walking is an essential element in the development of a future guide dog. A volunteer puppy walker takes a puppy of around 6 weeks old into their home and develops it for the first year of its life.

It takes a lot of time, commitment and love from both you and your family, but the end result is a very special animal. To be a puppy walker, you will not be able to be employed away from the home, as the puppies should not be left alone. You should be available to attend puppy walking training events weekly or bi-weekly, have a garden or area for play and be happy to help with local publicity. It doesn’t matter if you have other dogs, pets or children. Please contact 0845 371 7771 or [email protected] to find out more.

The Horticultural Society start our week with a lecture from Malcolm Withnall on Our Debt to Victorian Gardeners. All welcome at the Village Hall today (Friday) at 7.30pm.

The badminton clubs are busy with keen players of all abilities. If you fancy a game, the clubs are in the Pretious Sports Hall on Friday: 5.30pm (ages 8-11), and 6.30pm (ages 12-18), 8pm for adults (drop-in) and also Mondays 5.45-6.45pm.

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Coffee Stop brews in the Church Centre each Wednesday 10am until midday. Everyone is welcome to drop in for a leisurely chat.

The WI meet in the Jenkins Room on Wednesday at 2pm, and this time it’s the AGM, when the committee will be elected for the coming year. All members are entitled to stand and to vote. The formal part of the afternoon will be followed by some games, tea and chat. Please call Margaret Hinds 01797 253341 if you would like any further information.

Each Wednesday, there is a Pay and Play open session in Pretious Sports Hall 6.45- 7.45pm. The hall is set up for badminton and table tennis, and shuttle, racquets and bats are provided. Open to anyone over 12 years.

Dave Collins will entertain, and the chiropodist will visit Thursday Seniors’ club this week.

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The AGM for the Pretious Sports Hall will be at 7pm on Thursday 7th November at Northiam School. Although this is a formal AGM agenda there is opportunity to raise your questions and issues and talk about the future running of the Hall in such a way that it meets local group and wider community needs. Do please come along to consider how the Hall should be operated in the future, key committee members are moving on so changes will be made in the near future and users and the village generally do need to be represented.

There will be a cookery demonstration in the Church Hall on Tuesday 19th November, when Shirley Saeed will teach us how to make authentic curry. Tickets are just £5 and will include tasters of curry and Hastings Brewery’s Blonde beer. Phone 253375 to book your place, as numbers are limited.

There’s still time to join Northiam’s Bonfire Society, or to offer to help with staging the event. Please contact Chris Bathew 253682 or Judith O’Connor 252114. The Bonfire will be on Saturday 23rd November and the torchlit procession will start around Beales Lane and head along Main Street to the field beyond Frewen’s cricket field, on the Hastings Road. People who normally park in the road are asked to put their cars in the surgery car park for the evening, and please make sure you take precautions for pets and children – it will be noisy!

The next Quiz Night is on Saturday November 30th, teams of 8, when we look forward to seeing 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.

Services (3rd): 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am Morning Praise www.northiamvillage.co.uk

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