Your letters - July 2, 2010

Looking for nurse who 'helped saved my life'

TO the wonderful nurse who helped to save my life:

Hello, we briefly met again at Alexandra Park on Sunday at the War Veterans Association parade and fete.

I did not catch your name, I only know you had a jewellery stall.

You were the nurse who first received and worked on me after the dreadful attack 14 years ago.

I wanted very much to exchange telephone numbers and hopefully meet for coffee so that I may thank you properly.

But I was so very overwhelmed at our meeting.

Please will you contact me on 07871002007.

Anyone who knows this dear lady, please pass on my number.

She was on crutches at the time and finding the day, as we were, very hot.

By the way, it was a truly fabulous lovely day, well done to Cllr Richard Vallery-Peters for his organisation of this event.

The old songs and marches bought very much to the surface of our very brave soldiers who are fighting for a better world.

Heidi Child Glossop

Crossing Farm, Eatenden Lane,

Mountfield

Many thanks to the team of helpers

WHAT a day! England lost the World Cup, Hamilton came second and England beat the Australians at cricket, but we feel on the same level as the English cricket team, as we had a winner at the gymkhana held at the Pestalozzi Village, Sedlescombe raising much needed funds for two very worthy charities, Kipling County Carriage Driving for the Disabled and Pestalozzi themselves.

So am writing once again to not only thank all the helpers and sponsors but also a very big thank you to Andrew Norcott of Gatehouse Farm who saved the day by kindly loaning me a set of jumps.

It may have been hot, but not as warm as that of the faces of the competitors who had enjoyed the day and left proudly displaying their rosettes and trophies.

Margaret Grimes

Telham Lane, Battle

Robertsbridge event was special occasion

I have had the privilege of living in Robertsbridge for the past 17 years and on Saturday June 26 I went to the first Robertsbridge Summer Event (party in the park).

I truly hope this is the first of what will become an annual event, this has really put a "spring in the step" of our already beautiful village.

My thanks go out to the parish council, the sponsors of this event and anyone who got stuck in to make this the success that it was.

Brian King

Darwell Close, Robertsbridge

Mountfield Church Festival thanks

As one of the organisers of Mountfield Church Music Festival on June 26, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those friends and neighbours who worked so hard and gave their time and skills on the day. Many of you are non-church goers and the world would be a better place if there were more like you!

So in no particular order, grateful thanks to:

Dave Craven – event manager, stage equipment provider and drummer

Dave Rook – barbecue chief

Jon Stiles – guitar player/song writer and music producer

'Veggie' Pete Dollimore – organic salad provider

Mary 'Cozzie' Downing – organiser and Cif queen

Simon Kunath – technical effects

Steve Howes – stage effects

Duncan Booth and Pamela – electrical specialists

Joyce Rook – adviser and bin specialist

Donna Gray – barbecue queen

Michael Mayers – door manager and preparation

Wendy Mayers - door and barbecue helper

Lucinda and Simon Fraser – bar managers

Lee Gray – roadie

Martin O'Connor – roadie

Gussy and Adrian Bidwell – barbecue helpers

Barbara Downing – flowers and preparation

Jackie Spriggs – food and drinks

Yvonne Puxty – gazebo queen

Anne Egerton – teas

Shauna and Serena Puxty – preparation

Caroline Hollamby and Sue O'Sullivan – judges

Fred Stace and Judith – preparation

John Parsons – gazebo helper

Lawrence – sorry you couldn't be there but the marinades were fabulous.

Apologies if I've missed anyone out.

Thanks to everyone who came along. It was a great night.

Julienne Attwood

Little Millham, Mountfield

Are crows killing smaller birds?

This year, I have noticed a large increase in the numbers of rooks, crows, jackdaws and magpies frequenting local gardens.

I have seen smaller birds being attacked and carried off.

My usually successful blue tit brood didn't stand a chance as the above culprits descended from all directions.

I believe that one adult and one chick may have survived to see another day.

The collared dove numbers have dropped from the usual dozen or so to two and there are no young blackbirds, great tits or other small birds in the vicinity.

I think that the crows etc are killing the young before they have a chance to fledge as I have seen, at times, whole trees and hedgerows with over a hundred crows etc crowding into small areas along the River Tillingham.

I have always believed that every creature has its place but am beginning to think that the farming community may need to take action if we are to be left with any of our lovely small birds.

I cannot imagine our gardens and countryside without bird song.

Patricia Barefoot

The Close, Rye

Winchelsea councillors amazed by claims

I and the other Winchelsea ward councillors were very surprised to read the claim, made in last week's Observer by Mr Donald Cameron-Clark, that he had voted for us at the last parish council election.

However, I doubt that we were half as surprised as Mr Cameron-Clark's wife, who also stood as a candidate for one of the three seats (and was defeated)!

It is even more difficult to believe that Mr Cameron-Clark was unaware of the central issue of the last election. At the hustings which took place at the Town Meeting in April 2007, just before the election, the one issue on which all candidates were asked to state their position was a separate parish of Winchelsea.

Does Mr Cameron-Clark really not remember his wife's famous warning that an elected parish council for Winchelsea would lead to "dictatorship"? It certainly raised a laugh among the audience!

Given Mr Cameron-Clark's obvious confusion over the 2007 election, one cannot but be surprised to read that he believes Icklesham Parish Council has a "common sense approach to finance".

This is the council that consistently levies about 25%+ more in tax than it is able to spend each year; that recently made an expenditure decision despite being warned by the parish clerk that they would be breaching their own Financial Regulations; and that has, in my opinion, a history of poor financial management.

If Mr Cameron-Clark had in fact been reading our reports in the Observer, he would know that the three Winchelsea ward councillors were among the four who opposed any increase in the parish council's tax this year, not least because we felt it inappropriate given the general financial situation.

We were outvoted by councillors from other wards, who decided on an increase of over 13%.

Richard Comotto

Winchelsea.

I think bike - do they think car?

Large posters are appearing in Rye exhorting us to 'Think Bike'.

I often 'Think Bike' when I am driving, especially when I am observing the speed limit and am overtaken at great speed by a bike.

Or when a convoy of half a dozen zooms towards me on my side of the road. Or even when several of the machines weave their way round a line of vehicles waiting in a queue to feed round a junction.

But I am not permitted to say what I am thinking!

Marion Lovell

New England Lane, Playden.

OAP swimming should be cheap

THE withdrawal of free swimming for pensioners seems to conflict with the new Government's promises that common sense should be reintroduced into the country.

By enabling more people to take this exercise and keep fit it must reduce the need for visits to a GP and hospitals, thus saving more money than free swimming costs. Pools are open anyway, so why not introduce a nominal charge just to cover administration? Why cannot authorities work together to a common good?

This could apply to other considerations such as double summer time, where summer evening sports season could be extended by two months. The GP comment applies here as well, and energy usage would be reduced.

K G Beckett

Glyne Drive, Bexhill

We should feed the birds proper food

REFERRING to the concerned reader of bullying gulls stealing food from ducks in the park. The food in question was left over bread.

People, however kind are under the misapprehension, that all fowl and birds have a diet including bread in their natural habitat.

Well they don't. Gulls eat fish mainly and birds eat seeds and fruity berries with a diet of worms and other meaty things. All bread does, is fill their belly up, so they are too full to eat their proper nourishing food, and suffer, from it.

It reminds me too of people kindly feeding hedgehogs with bread and milk.

Please don't. A tin of cat food would be very welcome and most nourishing.

BRIAN MARLAND

Pevensey Road, St Leonards

Thanks to our generous sponsors

TO the sponsors of the Grand Auction of Promises- thank you so very much for your kind and generous donations of gifts, vouchers, 'promises', events, and meals. We are so very grateful.

The 90 lots raised around 2,500 towards the necessary work to St Andrew's Church roof fund. The evening was great fun and was enjoyed by everyone. The money raised will benefit the church roof fund, enabling the much-needed roof repairs to start later this year. Your generosity was much appreciated, so please accept our sincere and grateful thanks.

PETER JENNINGS

St Andrew's PCC fund-raising team

St Andrew's and St Peter's Churches

Fairlight

Smoking defence beggars belief

HAVING read the 'Why can't they give smokers a break' I am at a bit of a loss to understand how the writer can defend smoking at a hospital.

I agree addictions are difficult to stop but surely the point is that it's not a nightclub, a pub or even the back of the bike sheds, it is a hospital. The NHS is burdened with billions of pounds worth of expenditure each year due to addictions and the professionals must think it's almost two fingers up to them when this sort of thing goes on. You are free to do what you wish in your own home but not outside a hospital surely?

I understand there is a no smoking policy within the entire Conquest grounds but it is difficult to enforce. People sometimes don't know what is good for them.

BENJAMIN FRANKE

Elphinstone Road