Piddinghoe

TUNEFUL AP-PEAL: A Spring Concert is planned in St John’s Church as a first step towards a big fund-raising project aimed at financing the restoration of our mighty church bells. They are an item well worth saving, being centuries old and, to be honest, we are having reasonable success with some of them. Yet there is one in particular that defies every sweated effort to free it and it may well cost a packet yet to bring it off. In all its likely that £25,000 will be needed to return everything to its former glory and now moves are afoot. On Saturday April 13 in the Church there will be Spring Song with Harmonia, an A Capella Trio of Female Voices. From 3pm come along and enjoy an afternoon of folk songs, spirituals and more from this talented threesome. There will be refreshments and no charge but a retiring collection will be taken and please give generously towards the Bell Restoration Fund. Other events will soon be announced, one to fit with Easter and the hope is to get children involved. Another possibility is an entry for Brighton and Hove district Art Wave by a village couple. It will take a while but there is a determination t finance those glorious bells. Further details from Rev Mary Sitwell at Chambles on Village Green.

RAISING THE ROOF: Solid walls have started going up on the property beside the village hall where Hugh and Priscilla and their ‘sheep’ dogs-duo move towards a dream home. Everybody knows they have had the most terrifying and enormous setbacks over the past three years of agonized construction but finally it is all coming together and we can think ahead to the day when those mauve fences come down and all is revealed. Meanwhile, the other important site in the village, Malthouse, is looking more attractive week by week and a suitable Palace for Queen Gill, our most admired senior resident. It will be resplendent when Spring has Sprung in the orchard. With the Church Slope daffodils out, although not quite in as great abundance as last year, there is a really lovely look about the village just now. Slightly further afield, however, there are problems however with two more elm trees coming down on Harping Hill in the high winds last weekend and the demise of those trees is a real village dilemma all round.

FILM NIGHT: Advance bookings are being taken for the Big Screen presentation in the village hall on Friday March 22, Bohemian Rhapsody. The projectionist is adamant nobody will ever be turned away at the door when arriving to pay £3 for their seat on the night even though this crowd-pleaser looks sure to be a rare full house. But those who pre-pay will be guaranteed a prime position on request. There will be refreshments and wine available as usual and start-time will be 7.30pm.

PIDDINGHOE PLAYERS: Just two weeks to go to Le Hoe de Pidding, a satire in two parts by our recently-formed band of playful thespians. Tickets are going fast we understand but can still be obtained at £10.00 from Sheila on 514768 or David Hallett at [email protected], to include sustenance.

CHURCH SERVICES: Next is the full one-hour service including prayer, hymns, a reading and The Eucharist on Sunday March 24 at St John’s (9.30am). It will be followed by the shorter version on Sunday April 9th with Rev Mary Sitwell (8.30am).

PILATES: From 8.15am Tomorrow (Saturday) morning in village hall with Rebecca (three sessions).

INDOOR GAMES: Table Tennis and Darts free to play in village hall Wednesday evenings (7.30pm).

ART AND KNITTING: Thursday afternoons in village hall with Jill’s ladies from 2pm.

YOGA: With Tim Blair in village hall from 6.30pm (£8).