Robertsbridge

St Mary’s Salehurst: are starting with Holy Communion at the Mission Room in Fair Lane this Sunday 20th November. Then at Salehurst for Holy Communion at 11am. At 4pm the All Age Worship Service is taking place at Holy Trinity in Hurst Green.

Just a reminder that next Saturday 26th November is the St Mary’s Christmas Market at Robertsbridge Hall between 10am and 1pm. There will be the usual stalls plus a few more this year. Please tell your friends, family and neighbours about it just in case they have not seen the advertising.

Robertsbridge Age Concern: is meeting on Monday from 10.30am – 2.15pm. The meetings will carry on until Monday December 19th, which will be the last meeting of 2016. All local seniors are very welcome to stop by for a morning cuppa or maybe the whole session. You will be made very welcome.

Christmas Capers: this year will be on Friday 2nd December and will as usual be a hive of activity throughout the streets. On the Sunday prior to this night on 27th November, in fact next week there will be a free family event happening at Robertsbridge Club. This is a Willow Lantern making session between 12 noon and 3pm. The lanterns will be used in the Parade on Christmas Capers Night. Something for all the family to get involved in.

Robertsbridge Bonfire Society – as most of you know, will be holding an Extravaganza again this year. The Bonfire Celebrations take place tomorrow evening throughout most of the village.

There are no programmes as such this year but there are information leaflets available from the shops and pubs in the village. These give all details of the times and places for the whole of the day.

The day will start with a Maroon being let off at 7am to signify that the Bonfire Society are on the field at the Recreation Ground and starting to assemble the displays. Do not panic if you are new to the village this is one very loud bang and can be heard across the valley. One year someone phoned the police as they thought the pavilion had been bombed.

The general public will not have access across the field on either Saturday due to fireworks and vehicles being on site. Or on Sunday morning as there will be much debris to be cleared up after the event.

There is a Guy Competition again this year that is kindly sponsored by Sandie at the Floral Boutique. The prize is £20 for the best Guy in town. If you are making one please make sure it is at the recreation ground by 1pm on Saturday to be judged at 2pm. Make sure he has your name and contact number on if you are leaving him. If you want to take your guy home make sure you have picked him up before 3pm or else he will be on the fire in the evening.

There is to be a road closure in place from 6pm until 10pm with the route that is covered being Station Road, High Street, and George Hill to Heathfield Gardens, The Clappers and Northbridge Street. If you normally park in these areas could you please find alternative parking for those few hours. This is for everyone’s safety. If there are vehicles left on the route Robertsbridge Bonfire Society will not be liable if there is any damage done to those vehicles. Thanks in advance for your co-operation in this matter.

At 7.15pm there will be a maroon sent up from the Station and this signals the start of the procession. Please do not cause a crush at the top of Station Road at the T Junction, as the societies will be carrying flaming torches and need to get through safely. Please adhere to instructions from the marshals as they have your safety in mind. When the procession goes onto the recreation ground there will be no access to the public. There is plenty of room for viewing along the Clappers. There are many good vantage points from around the village as the fireworks are aerial. All access points to the recreation ground will be closed. The disability area is at the Cricket Pavilion, through the gate to your right, which will be marshalled.

The street collection is a very important part of the evening as this raises funds to go to all the local groups to help them out during the year. None of this money goes to pay for the event. As it is a free event please give generously, if everyone that watched just gave £1 it would bolster many groups in our village.

The procession arrives at the Recreation Ground at 8.15pm, at 8.30pm the Bonfire Societies have the Bonfire Prayers around the fire, which is then lit and then followed by the Grand Firework Display.

Now the serious bit of does and don’ts, do not pick up any discarded torches, do not throw any fireworks, do not have babies or young children at the front of the pathway as the procession goes by. Children under the age of 16 should be with a responsible adult.

Please wear sensible coats and shoes as there could be sparks flying and many people all trying to get to the same place at the same time. If for any reason you need first aid or medical attention the St Johns Ambulance will be providing it this year, ask a marshal for help and they will assist you in getting it.

Just another word of warning there have been bogus collectors at some events this season, all of our own people will have ID and a bucket with the RBS logo on, only give to them and if you are not sure ask for ID.

Finally if you want to help by being a marshal you have to be over 18 but there will a marshals meeting at Robertsbridge Club this evening. If you would like to be a collector you can pick up your bucket and ID from Robertsbridge Club tomorrow from 6pm. The more the merrier.

Finally don’t forget if you are coming out to the celebrations please leave you animals safe, lights on and maybe a bit of music.

Enjoy the fantastic evening that is in store and keep safe for everyone to enjoy it too.

Robertsbridge Club: is open tomorrow night as usual but just an advanced warning there will only be cash sales. No tabs or cards. This is just for Bonfire Night.

Armistice Day: was last Friday 11th November. It was good to see a nice turnout at the Memorial for the 2 minutes silence at 11am. Children from the schools and nursery and older members of our community. This is an important day in the country and deserves respect. It is such a shame that some people who drive into the village cannot spare more than 5 minutes to sit quietly with their engines turned off in respect for those that gave not just 5 minutes but their lives. I was shamed that there was pandemonium on George Hill because the first car needed to turn around and go back up the hill causing the others cars to have to move in and out of the parked cars either side. It was not quite so bad on Sunday at the Memorial Service but still where is the respect. If you were in one of those cars please think again next year before coming out on Armistice Day.

Sad news: that Roz the Lollipop lady sadly died last week. Condolences go to her family and friends; it will not be the same for all those children and parents that she has safely crossed over in her years on George Corner. FRIDAY DARTS: We had a bye last week but tonight we are away to Mountfield Club ‘A’ 8p.m.

LADIES DARTS: The next open evening is at Robertsbridge Club on Monday 28th November 2016 starting at 8p.m.

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