Staplecross

COMMUNITY NEWS & REVIEWS: A great time was had by all who attended the '˜Lantern Making Session' on Saturday last (5th) at our village school. When we arrived with 2 eager grandchildren in tow, we were greeted by noise, apparent madness, mayhem and mess, - but throughout it all, smiles, laughter, friendliness and of course fun was the order of the day. Out of all this apparent chaos- artistic design won through, as there were some really great lanterns to show for all the children's hard work - aided & abetted throughout by the very willing so called grown-ups ! It was difficult to see who was having the most fun here, as grown-up's of all ages, vied for the glue, brushes and coloured tissue paper amongst those to whom this event was actually aimed at. But friendly rivalry and sheer good natured reigned supreme and everyone went home happy and well content with their achievements. Hosted by the popular 'Castle Inn' staff at Bodiam, this is fast becoming an annual occurrence as Bonfire Night continues to weave it's magical spell over us. To continue with these historic celebrations, everyone who made a lantern - & even those who didn't - are invited to come along, bring their lanterns and join in the traditional Bodiam Lantern Parade. The parade starts at approximately 5.30pm at the actual entrance area to the castle, meanders around Bodiam Castle, and then along to the Castle Inn pub, into the grounds and then to watch the bonfire being lit, culminating in a fantastic firework display. This is always a great night out, loud, busy and noisy - as the nature of these events are - but still great family fun and very enjoyable for one & all..... Don't Miss It !
Staplecross newsStaplecross news
Staplecross news

PTFA. STAPLECROSS MP SCHOOL: Just a last,quick reminder that the P.T.F.A. group of our super village school will be holding a fundraising Jumble Sale tomorrow - that’s Saturday November 12th. in Staplecross Village Hall and the doors will open at 2.00pm to admit all those clever people looking to bag themselves a bargain. Any donations of jumble can be brought to the hall from 9.30am onwards or if you can’t manage to deliver it yourselves, then please contact the school on 01580~830256 who will pass the message on to the PTFA who should hopefully be able to arrange collection from you.

ROTHER RAMBLERS: Despite the sudden drop in temperature, if we wrap up well, being out of doors enjoying our glorious scenery is a treat for many of us, and the members of the local walking group, the Rother Ramblers will be doing just that as they enjoy two more walks this week. Walk No:1 is arranged to take place on Sunday November 13th. and will be an 8.5 circular mile stroll of Penshurst to Leigh. The meeting point will be the lay-by on the LEFT of the B2176, going north out of Penshurst village. OS EXP147. TQ525436. (SatNav TN11 8DE) at 10.00am. As always, a picnic lunch is suggested and the ‘walk leaders’ for today will be Rita & Lionel and you may contact them on 01424~752452 for all further information. Walk No:2 is planned for Wednesday November 16th and is a 6 mile -figure of 8 meander - of Burwash- Two Valleys; Dudwell and Rother.The meeting place is the car park, next to the Bear Inn, Burwash. OS EXP136. TQ673246. at 10.00am. Pick-up can be arranged from Etchingham Station but only if arranged in advance with the leader. A picnic or pub lunch is suggested (- but for approximately 30 minutes only.) Your ‘walk leader’ for this outing will be John and you can contact him on 01424~773998 for any more details that you require.

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EAST SUSSEX MOBILE LIBRARY: Once more, we look forward to welcoming the little Mobile Library Service as the van, carrying all the exciting goodies on board, wends it’s way through our little countryside lanes on it’s way to our outlying rural communities. We shall only be having the one visit this month - to both villages, so do please make full use of this excellent, FREE service, whilst we can. This month’s visit will be on Thursday November 17th and will first call to Staplecross, where it will park in Cricketers Field, between 1.40pm and 2.10pm. Following on from that session, it will then meander down to Cripps Corner, - where it will now use the car park of the ‘Direct Recovery Yard between 2.20pm and 2.45pm.- for the foreseeable future. This venue is on the Battle Road, over the bridge, toward Swailes Green. The residents of this little hamlet can then avail themselves of this vital and much needed service. This is a relatively new ‘stopping place’ - due to the closure of the local pub and uncertainty of it’s proposed future, so please do still make as much use of the facilities on board when the van visits your areas. The Library is about more than just books, so please come along and see for yourself and help keep this service going for the benefit of all who live in our outlying rural areas and perhaps, cannot always easily access the Main Branch facilities

EWHURST, STAPLECROSS & BODIAM GARDEN SOCIETY: As mentioned last week, now is the time of year that a number of societies, groups and clubs hold their A.G.M. and

this popular village horticultural society is no exception. Please don’t be put off by these 3 letters, as these meetings often divulge a huge amount of information in regard to what will be happening in the future, within your own group, and you can often be included in how the next year’s activities are planned. Committees are usually formed at these gatherings and now may be the time to put forward any interest you may have, in becoming a committee member. Ewhurst, Staplecross & Bodiam Garden Society will be holding the next meeting in their busy 2016 Programme of Events on Thursday November 17th at 7.30pm.in the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross. This promises to be an exciting evening, as not only will it be their club’s A.G.M. - but it will play host to a very popular and well known speaker in the form of Mr. Roy Brigden, Archivist, who will be telling us all about ‘the Lloyds’ and the story of Great Dixter’. This beautiful house & gardens are much loved by all who visit here and the tale of how it was all achieved promises for an entertaining evening. To earn more of this particular interesting item and for more information on how you can become a member of this warm-hearted, friendly and helpful horticultural society, please give the club’s secretary (Ruth) a ring on 01580~831918. We look forward to seeing you at our meeting and would love to welcome you to our group.

STAPLECROSS LUNCHEON CLUB: Once more the members of this lovely little Dining Group will be meeting on Wednesday November 16th. from 12.30pm in the Village Hall, Northiam Road, Staplecross. As stated before, new members (of 50 years young and over!) are still desperately needed to help keep this very friendly and happy social group from becoming just another sad village reminder of yet another lost activity. On the menu this month, and back by popular request, will be that firm favourite - ‘Cottage Pie, with all fresh seasonal vegetables followed by delicious hot ‘Plum Surprise with a yummy sauce for dessert. All this, for the miserly sum of £6:00 per person. including tea/coffee to finish with. If this is not to your taste - or dietary needs - then please let the organisers know, and an alternative meal can always be provided for you. The menu’s are always very varied, delicious, plentiful, reasonable and freshly cooked and with no clearing up or washing up involved, there’s really no reason for you not to come & be a part of it. -- so no excuses. ‘Rules’ are few & far between, - you have to be ‘of a certain age’,- and promise, whenever possible to attend each month - this avoids unnecessary wastage in food, time, money and energy - so important in this day and age, when economy matters. You don’t even have to live within the parish as many of our valued diners come from outside our villages. Also, you don’t have to have lived in the community for a generation or more, before you are ‘entitled’ to join. This means that if you have recently moved into the parish, in any of our three villages, then this could be just the opportunity you need to make new contacts, colleagues and of course, new friends. So please, just give the two organisers a ring - Sally on 01580~830000 or Dennis on 01580~830816 for all further details and to make your reservation. Please come along and support us, and you’ll soon be a very welcome and much valued member of this lovely, sociable dining group

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CHURCH SERVICES: Church services for the parish of Ewhurst will commence at St. James the Great, Ewhurst Green, on Sunday November 13th. at 9.30am. This will be a special service for two (2) reasons; - No:1 -- it will be Remembrance Sunday which as you all know, is a day devoted to remembering and giving our heartfelt thanks to ALL those people who so gallantly, bravely and in putting the care of others before themselves, honourably gave up their own lives. This day is more often associated with the service men and women of our two World Wars, but recent time has now also included ALL areas of conflict, - including the Falklands and Afghanistan. There will be a Remembrance Service also today at St. Giles church, Bodiam at 11.00am. when the nation will hold a two minute silence in respect of all those who lost their lives serving their country in whichever conflict, ancient or modern. The second of our parish Remembrance Services will follow at 3.00pm at St. Mark’s church, Northiam Road, Staplecross. And..... Reason No:2 -- We are so pleased to see that services for this very special day, will be conducted in ALL three of our beautiful churches. If there is any church matter on which you feel you may need further assistance, then do please get in touch. You may contact either of the churchwardens ~ Graham Peters -on [email protected] and telephone no: 01580~830203 for Bodiam church matters and for Ewhurst Parish church matters, please contact Jo Goodwin-on [email protected] and telephone no: 01580~830601. Help in some form or another, is always at hand, and so generously given, so do please contact them.

PLEASE CONTACT ME: If you are arranging an event in the foreseeable future, --- whatever the nature of the event and however large or small, if you’d like some extra coverage for it, then please get in touch. If it’s of interest to you, - it’s of interest to us. Now that summer is officially over, you may be already planning events for Halloween or even afar ahead as Christmas and it’s never too early to send in any of the details and to tell us what you are planning, so please do contact me, as I’d love to hear from you and to help ‘spread the word’ on your behalf...............Thank You.

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