Your letters - July 23, 2010

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Join the fundraisers and have some fun

WE WOULD like to invite your readers to join the 1066 Country Relay Fundraisers Community-based fundraising event.

1066 Country Relay Fundraisers' 20Hour Party will be held for the third time in Hastings on Saturday, September 11 at William Parker Sports College.

Last year's event raised a staggering 15,000 for CRUK.

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This year we are supporting more local charities, this way opening our party to more people in 1066 Country.

We are lucky enough to have the support for the second year from Wiltshire Farm Foods, Eastbourne.

They have taken part in our smaller events this year such as Bewl Water Trek and 10hr Cycle Relay, proving that the marsh road is no barrier to working together for charities in our communities.

We aim to raise as much money as possible for the six health related charities we are supporting in 2010.

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The charities are CRUK, Demelza Children's Hospice (Hailsham), St Michael's Hospice, Sara Lee Trust, RSPCA Bluebell Ridge, and RSPCA Mallydams.

All the money raised by our teams is passed on to these charities.

Our members raise funds and state where they should go.

We are a not-for-profit volunteer lead community organisation.

We aim to bring the community together through fun activities and at the same time do some good for charity.

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We bring together the whole community from 1066 Country. Last year we had visiting teams from Rochester and Tunbridge Wells who came to do their bit, too.

Give up 20 hours to celebrate the lives of those who are affected by ill health; remember those who have passed away and honour the courage of their loved ones.

No doubt many of your readers have been affected by cancer, heart problems, brain illness – Ms, Parkinson's, etc – in some way.

As well as affecting humans, animals have some of these illnesses, too.

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This is a unique opportunity for your readers to show their support and join a celebration and make a real difference.

We are currently recruiting groups of friends, families and work colleagues to form teams and take part.

There is a trophy for the business team that raises the most money, as well as a trophy for the school team that raises the most.

The teams will be encouraged to fundraise in the build-up to Party Weekend or use the weekend as a sponsored event.

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Then the team members will take turns to walk, run, skip or crawl around the running track at William Parker Sports College.

There will be plenty of fun and games including competitions such as karaoke, team tug-'o-war, quizzes, dancing and much more.

There really will be a party atmosphere that you won't want to miss.

However young or old you are, there is something here for you.

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Anyone wanting to get involved with 1066 Country Relay Fundraisers will receive a warm welcome.

For further information please call Nicola on 07891039334

If there are any organisations that would like to help by providing entertainment or to come and take part in the fun and games please get in touch.

The more people involved the greater the fun will be.

NICOLA EVANS

Chair of 1066 Country Relay

Fundraisers

Taking issue with MP's response on hunting

(Copy of a letter sent to Gregory Barker MP)

Dear Mr Barker

With reference to your response to my email regarding Tory proposals to repeal the Hunting Act 2004, I would take issue with both the nature of your response and its contents.

The letter issued by your office was a standard, pre-written piece of Central Office/Countryside Alliance propaganda that has been sent by many Conservative MPs in regard to this issue. I found this patronising, condescending and insulting. If you and your pro-hunting colleagues cannot be bothered to formulate your own responses then how are any of us to believe that you have indeed "considered the matter carefully."

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With regard to the main contents of the letter (assuming you've actually read it) I would point out the following:

a) The letter states that, in your judgment (or that of the person who actually drafted the letter), the Hunting Act is "detrimental to animal welfare when other methods of control are used, a number of which can be indiscriminate". Poisoning, gassing, gin traps and self tightening snares are indeed indiscriminate. They are also illegal and it is therefore up to the relevant authorities to actively enforce the laws that are in place to prevent their use and come down heavily on the people that use them. You cannot justify hunting by reference to the welfare implications of illegal methods of control.

b) It cites Jim Barrington, former excecutive director of the League Against Cruel Sports as now being in favour of hunting. Mr Barrington left LACS. many years ago. In fact it was when John Major was PM, when the Queen was urging Charles and Diana to seek a quick divorce, and long before the Hunting Act was introduced.

He now has a highly paid job with the Countryside Alliance. Therefore, anything that he has said since the Act came into force should be seen in the context of the organisation that he works for now.

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If you are going to start quoting people then how about using this one: "Pain and suffering is inflicted on animals in the course of sport. Nobody who has seen a beaten fox dragging his stiff limbs into the ditch in which he knows he will die can doubt this proposition." – Reginald Paget QC (Lord Paget), who hunted with the Fernie and Pytchely Foxhounds.

S WEBSTER,

Swallow Drive, Battle

Collection keeps Battle beautiful

THE STREET Collection on July 16-17 in Battle High Street and Market Square (by kind permission of Jempsons Budgens) raised 595 for Beautiful Battle funds.

Many thanks to all the people who contributed so generously and to the collectors who made the collection possible.

DIANA WATSON

Sponsorship Secretary

Beautiful Battle.

Rye in Bloom: Let's keep it going

OUR THANKS to Ms East for commenting on the fine flowers in Station Approach, Rye. (letters, July 16).

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Each summer for the past eight years the hanging baskets have been organised by Rye in Bloom and paid for by donations from the public and by fundraising.

There has also been the competition for best front gardens, window boxes and plantings in hotels and public houses. Sadly this will not be taking place this year.

Unless a new team can be found to run it, Rye in Bloom will no longer exist. Only a few months of action are required to keep the tradition going, so come on, Rye – who wants to help?

The retiring team will be on hand to advise. Call me on 01797 225026 for more information.

MADELEINE EVE

by email

Sheep killing the work of a 'big cat?'

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I WAS interested to read about the spate of sheep killings in the area. I wonder if the police are able to confirm they are the work of dogs?

Many of us will have heard of the 'Surrey Puma' – a long suspected colony of big cats living wild within our countryside.

Cycling down Watermill Lane at dusk last week, I was shocked when the unmistakably predatory form of a very big cat moved stealthily across the road before disappearing into the undergrowth.

I estimate the beast was perhaps one-metre high, black and with much longer legs then a domestic cat. I would be interesed to know if any other readers have had similar sightings?

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Moreover, has this creature anything to do with the sudden spate of sheep attacks I wonder?

JOHN LANDON

Bexhill

Scarecrows make us proud to be British

BY THE time this letter reaches you, prizes will have been awarded to the winners of the Battle Scarecrow competition, so I hope Margaret Emeleus, who was largely responsible for organising this wonderful event, will not mind my now mentioning the fact that, as last year, some scarecrows were destroyed or stolen by faceless morons who seem to take a perverted pleasure in spoiling other peoples' fun. Most residents would consider this conduct to be very un-British.

Which reminds me that Damien Green MP (Home Office Minister) has said that banning the burka would be un-British. Yet not so long ago, police ordered a man who had displayed the flag of St George to take it down as it might offend his ethnic neighbours.

I suspect that many Observer readers would consider this police action to be very un-British; as is also the fact that we can be forced to be x-rayed before flying anywhere and are not allowed to take drinks on board a plane.

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Fortunately, un-British problems in this area, although infuriating, are, by comparison with other areas, fairly low-key; nevertheless, I would encourage anyone who hasn't already done so, to visit the scarecrow sites (leaflet from the visitor centre, Battle Abbey) while they can; they are a credit to the imagination and effort of the local residents and children who made them, and will help to maintain your pride in being British.

JOHN HILL

Glengorse, Battle

Crossroads is here to help

EAST SUSSEX Brighton & Hove Crossroads provides support for carers and the people they care for.

There have been many changes during the past year. The company has had to change from receiving automatic funding as a charity care provider, to Crossroads putting forward tenders for work to East Sussex County Council and Hastings & Rother PCT.

Unfortunately we were not totally successful with the tender.

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In the Hastings & Rother area there is a day centre providing respite, and many carers have stayed loyal to Crossroads and are using direct payments to top up the hours they need.

Crossroads Trustees are a small group of men and women. We are looking for new people who have an interest or experience in social care, business or finance and would be willing and able to give a few hours per month of their time.

Please call Chris 07858745932 or Karen 07940739401 for an informal chat

Or visit our Crossroads Coffee morning at 135 Hughenden Road, on July 28 at 10am.

CHRIS FAGAN

Crossroads, 135 Hughenden Road,

Hastings

Church thank you to fire helpers

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RE: FIRE at St.Mary Magdalene, Whatlington on Thursday 15th July 2010

Canon Alan Sharpe (Priest-in-Charge), the Churchwardens and the Parochial Church Council would like to express their thanks to East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and to Sussex Police for the way in which they handled the fire at the church; in particular, for the prompt response and the supportive and considerate way in which a difficult situation was handled throughout.

Our thanks must also go to the lady who spotted the fire and called the Emergency Services and to the wider community for their support.

The fire began in the organ loft. When the west window collapsed the high winds quickly spread the flames through a void in the roof space – the investigation into the likely cause has not yet been concluded.

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The damage, however, is not as extensive as it could have been, the structure of the walls is intact, the majority of the recently restored windows are also intact as are much of the principal items of fabric within the building. The fire brigade were able to prevent the flames spreading into both the vestry and tower and the building still has all doors operational.

While obviously very sad at damage to our lovely 13th century church, we are determined to move forward and turn disaster into triumph. The building was fully insured and there is a detailed inventory of all that is lost or damaged.

We already have a vision to take us forward; all necessary contact has been initiated with the insurers, our architect and the Diocese of Chichester, all of whom are most supportive. We anticipate that work to clear the debris and begin to make the building weather proof will start as soon as practical and look forward to being able to share plans for the new roof etc.

It is clearly early days yet, but we hope to be able to incorporate a number of significant improvements into the re-built church, in keeping with its Grade II listed status, its character and location. Our vision is for a building which will be more flexible, better equipped and suited to its role in the coming years as a place of worship to the greater glory of God. By using traditional materials and skills in the restoration, we hope it will remain familiar to all those who love it and welcoming to all who may wish to join us.

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A church has stood on the present site since before the Conquest and it is likely that the original building was burned down by the Normans. The present building dates from the 13th century. It was restored and modernised by the Victorians in 1862 and we now have an opportunity to restore it again and for 2010 to go down in its history, as a renewal for Christian worship in the village of Whatlington.

We plan to continue to worship in Whatlington, using the Village Hall until such time as we can return to our church building.

JEFFREY BRIDGES and KEN JONES

Churchwardens,

St Mary Magdelene Church, Whatlington

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