Saxonwood WI

After singing Jerusalem, Brenda welcomed everyone to the first of the autumn meetings.

In August we enjoyed a visit to Charles Darwin’s Home, Downe House and an evening visit to the Windmill, Windmill Hill, Herstmonceux. These were well attended and very enjoyable.

The excellent speaker on Wednesday was Mr RWJ Jones from Ashburnham Place.

He took us through the 900 years of its existence in the lovely county of Sussex.

Picture boards were gradually filled with photographic portraits of the Ashburnham family where the eldest son always inherited and looked around for a wealthy wife. This succeeded very well for many decades.

The house changed too over the ages and there were scenic photographs of Ashburnham Place along with the plans of Capability Brown who set out the lakes and grounds as we see them now.

Roger Ashburnham was the first owner and a strong Roman Catholic who gave large sums of money to the monks of Battle and Ashburnham Abbeys.

All was change when Elizabeth 1st came to the throne.

It was such an intriguing story and so well told.

We are paying a visit to the house and gardens in October to see for ourselves and also to enjoy a delicious cream tea in the Orangery.

Many thanks indeed to Roger for a well told story.

Competition: a cross. Winners - 1st Trish Godfey, 2nd Madeleine Ballisat, 3rd Rita Bullard.

Dates for your diary:

Monday September 24: Craft and Chat, St Valery Room at 2pm. £1.50 including tea/coffee and biscuits.

Wednesday October 18: Speakers’ Selection at Brede Village Hall. Two members volunteered to go.

Friday November 9: A Bridge Taster for beginners. Hailsham 10am/1pm. Names by November 2.

Monday December 2: Christmas Concert and Readings at the Roman Catholic Church in Mount Street, Battle at 2pm. Each WI to bring own mince pies.

Friday December 14: The Anna Collis Singers Christmas Concert at De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill. Details to come.

Brenda and the committee need volunteers on two occasions:

1) Autumn planting in Abbey Walk at Barclays Bank to plant bulbs and bedding plants in the troughs and planters.

2) Wednesday November 14 to serve refreshments on a staggered basis at 9am, 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Please phone Brenda on 01424 773745 for details and offers of help.

Do think of coming forward as a committee member at the next meeting.

We are sorry to lose the help of Elaine who has to resign because of pressure of work.

Elaine has said she will continue to help out on the many occasions as she has done in the past.

Next meeting is on October 10 at 7.30pm and is the Annual Meeting to forward plan the coming 12 months and a surprise ‘tasting’ for your taste buds!

Competition: a home made card.