Playden

Marion Lovell, Abingworth, New England Lane

Following the Autumn Equinox last weekend, we shall now be increasingly aware of the shortening hours of daylight. All the way to Christmas, unfortunately. Are you being bombarded with catalogues? And plenty of Christmas cards and goodies already in the shops. It’s like the retail outlets having cleared out their summer stock, now only displaying winter woollies and the like. You try buying a pair of shorts at the moment!!

The concert by Fantasticus in St. Michael’s Church was lovely. The performers were talented, enthusiastic, informative about their instruments, and gave the capacity audience a superb concert.

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This afternoon -Friday 27th September - at 3 pm, there is The Bird Fancyer’s delight. Leading flautist Stephen Preston will give a fascinating and delightful history of bird song in music from the standpoint of a flute player. Stephen is a renowned player of 18th and 19th century flutes and was founding principal flautist of The Academy of Ancient Music, London Baroque as well as many other historic ensembles.

He is donating his fee for today’s performance to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.

On Saturday 28th September it is the Wild Woodland Weekend Club, organised by Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.

This is a new club for outdoor explorers aged 6 - 11, in a private woodland in Beckley. It is led by Lucy from Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and Sarah from Swallowtail Hill, who are both qualified Forest School leaders. The Wild Things get together at 10.30 and take part in activities such as den building, campfire cooking, woodland crafts, and games; they walk about 4 miles and are ready to come home at about 2 pm.

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BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL on [email protected] or 0845 337 2948.

Meet at Swallowtail Hill Farm, Hobbs Lane, Beckley. The charge is £10 per child.

The Iden and Playden Garden Society will be holding its Autumn Show on Saturday 28th September at 2.30 pm in the Village Hall, to be followed by the Annual general Meeting. Refreshments will be served and all are invited to attend this colourful show. My Michaelmas daisies are nearly out. They will have to get a move on the be ready for the Feast of St. Michael on Sunday. The Chairman is especially keen to encourage younger members to make vegetable animals to show.

The WEA courses are now advertised. Weekly courses are Schisms within Abrahamic Religions, Tutor David Derrington, 10 sessions on Tuesdays 10.30 to 12.30 at Rye Art Gallery, starting on 1st October, fee £79.

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Also Practical Gardening. This is a fun, friendly class with 10 sessions starting on Friday 4th October at Udimore Village Hall, Church Lane, Udimore 11 am to 1 pm. Tutor Jacqueline White. fee £79.

There is to be a Day School about Medieval Women - Nuns, Tarts, Trouble and Strife, Tutor Vanessa King. This is on Saturday 16th November 11 am to 3 pm at Tilling Green Community Centre, Mason Road. The fee for the day is £20 to include a Buffet Lunch.

Monthly courses are Burning Issues, Tutor David Alfred. This is seven sessions on Thursdays - every second Thursday of each month. 1.30 to 4.30 starting on 10th October at Tilling Green Community Centre. The fee is £82.95.

There is also Creative Writing with Tutor Catherine Smith on Thursdays from 1.30 to 4.30. seven sessions - third Thursday of every month at the Tilling Green Community Centre, Mason Road. fee is £82.95.

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For further information on all courses , ring Andrew Stuart on 01797 22 38 31 or Gill Bartholomew on 01580 76 44 65.

Bookings with payment to Gill Bartholomew, Coldharbour Oast, Plummer Lane, Tenterden, TN 30 6TU. Cheques made payable to WEA Rye Branch. Or you can book on line at : www. southern.wea.org.uk or by telephoning 0800 328 1060.

All these courses need 12 people to enrol or they cannot run. The benefits are not only to gain information, but also to have fun and maybe make new friends.

The Mobile Library will be at Poppyfield on Monday from 11.30 to 11.50.

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This coming weekend sees the Bishop of Chichester visiting this Deanery.

On Sunday evening in St. Mary’s Church, Rye, there will be a Confirmation Service at 6 pm. All are welcome to attend.

On Tuesday he will be at St. Michael’s Church at 12 noon for a said Eucharist. After that he will visit the school and then go to Iden.

On Thursday 3rd October St.Michael’s School will be holding a Harvest Festival in Playden church at 2 pm.

29th September is St. Michael’s Day. So St. Michael’s Church will have a special Parish Communion at 11 am to celebrate the Feast of St. Michael.