Playden village voice

Playden Church had a happy hum last Saturday when the Spring Fair took place. There were good things to buy, plants craftwork, toys,books, gifts and especially cakes. I’m told that there were also delicious cakes to be had with the coffee. A very useful sum of £341 was raised for church funds. Very many thanks to everyone who worked hard and also those who came in support. Apparently a man came to see to the organ cipher while the sale was happening, and gave a short but masterful organ ‘work-out’. Sorry I missed it!

Next Saturday at 10.30 am there will be the Friends of Playden Church AGM, when the reports will be given, committee elected, refreshments enjoyed and a short talk by Mrs. Jo Kirkham listened to. Do please make every effort to be there. Subscriptions are now due, and may be paid during the morning.

Next Sunday, leaving the church gate at 2.30 pm the next car Treasure Hunt will take place. It costs £5 per car +2 passengers, £2 per each extra person. It is always very good fun, if you like that sort of thing! and little lanes that we don’t know about are delightful. There will be ‘treasure’ to collect and clues to follow. Anyone can take part, you don’t have to belong to ‘Friends’. Do come.

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

The Rye and District Camera Club will hold their next meeting in the Playden W.I.Hall on Monday at 7.30 pm.This will be their AGM.

The next meeting of Playden Parish Council will be the Annual General Meeting at 7 pm on Thursday 3rd May . This will include the election of officers. And remember that there is still a vacancy for another member of the council. A report should be delivered to all households prior to the meeting. Could this interest you? Although Playden is a small parish, the Council does have a voice and can expedite affairs. It is interesting to hear about local government, planning applications, future plans and so on. So think about coming or joining.

Heather Coote sent the following W. I report: The meeting this month was a week later, due to the Easter holiday. The President, Mrs. Joan Taylor, welcomed everyone and began the afternoon with the sad news that Katie Harland had died and also another former member. A minute’s silence was observed in memory of them.

Several notices were given out and Mrs. Amy Breeds read her report on the Annual Council Meeting at Eastbourne which was enjoyed by all who had attended. Next year the Annual Council Meeting will be on 26th March at the Winter Gardens Theatre in Eastbourne.

Following the business, we were introduced to our speaker for the afternoon, Larri Hayhurst, who gave an informative talk on her experiences as a lecturer and palliative care nurse in Armenia.

Members were told that Mrs. Elizabeth Meldrum had been a member of Playden W. I. for 60 years, and wished to celebrate by purchasing the Diamond Jubilee Rose for the institute. Thanks were given to Elizabeth.

The Group Meeting was held at Beckley on Friday 20th, and several members attended. The speaker was Lee Ault whose subject was ‘ The Caged Lady’. This had everyone guessing what the talk was going to be about but the lady in question was dressed in Victorian Costume with layers of petticoats on top of her hoop. She had a trunk full of surprises whilst telling how ladies would dress in the Victorian era, and showed us some beautifully made underwear and cashmere shawls. Thanks were given to the ladies of Beckley W. I. who provided the lovely refreshments.

Thank you Heather.

For people who like to get up early, there is a Whimbrel Watch arranged by the Friends of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve on Sunday 29th April. Meet at Rye Harbour car park at 4.30 am, returning at 8 am. You will be able to enjoy the dawn chorus of gulls, terns, waders, wheatears, skylarks and count the whimbrel leaving their roost. The walk is about 3 miles.

At the recent inter-schools equestrian event during the Easter holiday, the Playden School team comprising Rosie, William and Clary came 6th. There was also individual success for Healy and Rosie. Well done.

There are vacancies for the Breakfast club which runs from 8 until 8.45 and costs £2.50 per day. It is very flexible, all it takes is a phone call.

There is a Movers and Groovers dance club now running on Friday afternoons. Cricket coaching begins on Mondays for the next nine weeks. These are free sessions.

The service on Sunday at 11 am will be Parish Communion led by the Vicar.

Marion Lovell, Abingworth, New England Lane