Northiam village voice

First call on Saturday is the Village Hall where you will need to set up your entries for the Horticultural Society’s Autumn Show between 9am and 10.30am. All you need to do is to take a look at the schedule, take it round your garden and collect everything you need to enter as many categories as you would like.

nce at the Hall, fill in a little ticket with your name and the class, hand over the princely sum of 20p per exhibit, and place it on the table to its best advantage. There is always someone on hand to give you a bit of friendly advice, and the card only gets turned over to say who you are if you are a prize-winner. So everyone gets to see your triumphs but not your “failures”.

I am looking forward to a really colourful Show, with plenty of dahlias, courgettes and some fabulous arrangements, so do join in!

Anyway, after getting your entries set up, the choice is whether to join in the Ride and Stride Event, attempting to visit as many churches and chapels as you can in Sussex, by foot, cycle or horse, or taking the more relaxing option of visiting South Grange in Quickbourne Lane, whose gardens are open under the National Gardens Scheme. Admission is £3.50 and there will be light lunches and home made teas. The garden is open from 11am to 5pm and there is plenty of parking.

However, you will also want to fit in Northiam Scout Group’s Pink Pig Day which starts at 1pm at Northiam Scout HQ – towards the woods off Goddens Gill, for any newcomers to the area. There will be a barbeque, sideshows, tombola, bric-a-brac and a Prize Draw – so something for everyone.

The Autumn Show is open to the public from 2.30pm for general admiration, or just to see how many prizes you have won! Prize giving starts at 4pm.

Sunday is equally busy, starting with the choice between God and mammon with Holy Communion at 8am or 10.30am and the Village Hall Boot Sale at 9am. The kitchen will be manned this week, but the Trust are looking for volunteers to organise refreshments for future Boot Sales. Please call Marie Edwards (01797 253264) to discuss hiring a stall or to offer to help.

South Grange gardens will be open again, or you might prefer to join in the Blue Cross’ Open Day and Dog Show. Registration for the Fun Dog Show is from 9.30am at £1.50 per class. Classes begin at 10am, and there will be lots of attractions for all the family, with alpacas, gundog scurry, agility demonstration, raffle, trade stands, a Pimms tent and refreshments.

Women’s’ Fellowship meet at 2pm on Tuesday in the Church Centre, with the bird man from Feathers talking about and answering questions on our feathered friends. Visitors are always welcome.

The Footpath Group will be Wandering in Wittersham (I think it’s a bit more focused than that!) on Wednesday, leaving the surgery car park at 9.15am for Wittersham church. This walk is and 8 mile figure of 8 route with a pub lunch.

If you’re staying in the village, then Coffee Stop will be brewing between 10am and noon in the Church Centre.

Thursday brings us the Seniors’ Club with the Citizens Advice Bureau, and this week’s speaker, Laton Frewen. The Parish Council meets in the Jenkins Room at 7pm.

Next Saturday (15th), Northiam Village Hall Trust will be holding a Jumble Sale at 2.30pm. Donations of jumble can be made in the morning (10-12).

The Conservation Society’s 25th anniversary celebration at Great Dixter is now sold out, so if you would like to hear members of Northiam Chamber Orchestra, there will be another chance, with the Harvest Celebration, an evening of poetry, prose and music celebrating the farming year which will be held in St Mary’s Church on Friday 28th September at 7.30pm. Tickets are on sale at £5 (to include interval refreshments) from Coffee Stop or 01797 253261. The Orchestra will be joined by pianist David Ruddock and other performers.

The Patients Participation Group are holding a Forum meeting in Northiam Village Hall on 25th September at 7 for 7.30 p.m.   The speakers will include Dr Broad of St Michaels Hospice and Mr Buchanan speaking about shoulders. Our Doctors will then hold a question and answer session. These are usually very informative evenings, so do make a note of the date.

Whilst speaking about the Forum, the PPG are looking for a couple of new Members, so if you are interested please contact the out-going Secretary on 01424 882213.  

Services (9th): 8am Holy Communion, 10.30am Holy Communion

Karen Ayling, The White House, Dixter Road