Piddinghoe

KEEP IT CLEAN: Litter is a huge problem in East Sussex and you only have to look along the verges of the A27, A26, A22, roads like that, to realise how bad it is. It is interesting to discover that much of the trash comes from falling off lorries when they are actually taking it to the waste disposal units rather than drivers throwing food and sweet wrappers out of their car windows. How often do you see the latter happening? Not often, really. So it is going to be a real challenge to find an answer to this ugly question even though many council workers are doing an important and valuable, if dangerous, job picking it up from the sides of main roads. All we can do locally is to keep vigilant. Residents of Piddinghoe are urged to keep an eye out for drivers who come (usually in vans) to tip stuff like old fridges, furniture and all kinds of muck in our woods that run alongside the slip road into the village from Newhaven on the C7. They are tough to spot because they normally come at night but it seems crazy when the council refuse tip is less than a mile away on the industrial estate that these cretins resort to such actions. Happily, the village is by and large pretty free from litter. We only have one general bin (plus two dog-waste bins) in the main part of Pidd yet it rarely overflows. We used to have a great man named Martin who made his main exercise a litter- picking walk through the village at least once every few days. Sadly he is no longer with us so maybe a few more of us should take up his legacy. Thankfully, our dustmen are a splendid set of lads who come early on Thursday mornings to keep us clear even though some villagers still persist in putting out plain, vulnerable black bags which birds can make a huge mess of before our Refuse Chaps come along. Go rubber with your bin.

SILVER SCREEN: Doors will be open tonight (Friday) from 7pm at Piddinghoe Village Hall when a substantial audience is expected for the the Queen movie, Bohemian Rhapsody. Film Night doesn’t always pack them in here but this time several tickets have been booked in advance already and prime seating positions may be at a premium for those who pay on the door (£3). Free tea, coffee and biscuits are all part of the deal and a glass of wine can be enjoyed for a small donation to village hall funds. The heaters will be on and film-fans are advised to bring a cushion for maximum comfort.

CHURCH SERVICES: Every fourth Sunday at St John’s (9.30am) including hymns and The Eucharist. Then every second Sunday in the month a shorter, half-hour service led by Rev Mary Sitwell. Plans are well advanced for Easter (April 21, Easter Sunday) and the fund-raising effort to attack the £25,000 needed to restore our wonderful Church Bells is already underway. The first fund-raising event will be with Harmonia, an A Capella trio of female voices in Spring Song at St John’s Church on Sunday April 13 (3pm). There will be free refreshments and a retiring collection will be taken in aid of the restoration fund.

PIDDINGHOE PLAYERS: Piddinghoe Players present Le Hoe de Pidding (satire and song) in the Village Hall Saturday March 30 (7p.m.) £10 including a drink. Tickets from Old School, Village Green.

FILM NIGHT: Tonight (Friday) in village hall Bohemian Rhapsody, PG at 7.30pm. (Doors open 7pm) £3.

PILATES: Tomorrow (Saturday) with Rebecca in the village hall. Three separate sessions from 8.15am to 11.15am.

INDOOR GAMES: Every Wednesday night from 7.30pm equipment freely available in village hall for tables tennis, darts etc. Just turn up.

ART AND KNITTING: Jill is taking a break this week but others may bring their brushes and needles and find the kettles and tea pot in the usual places at village hall. Thursdays from 2pm.

YOGA: Tim Blair’s class ever Thursday from 6.30pm, £8 in village hall.